Fresh off a six-year contract extension, head coach Brad Dancer and No. 20 Illinois (8-4, 2-0) will travel to West Lafayette, Indiana, to face Purdue (8-3, 0-1) on Friday and Bloomington, Indiana, to battle Indiana (9-4, 0-2) on Sunday.
After dropping two straight to No. 17 Baylor (12-6) and No. 3 Ohio State (12-2, 1-0), Illinois is back to form with two consecutive dominant wins against Big Ten foes Nebraska (8-4, 1-1) and Wisconsin (6-4, 0-2). Most recently, Purdue and Indiana struggled with trips out West, losing back-to-back to UCLA (4-6, 2-0) and No. 21 USC (8-4, 2-0).
Dancer: Illinois legend
Dancer’s legacy continues to grow as his tenure was extended through the 2030-31 season. Over 20 years with the Illini, Dancer has established the program as a national contender with multiple conference titles while coaching and developing numerous All-Americans.
His commitment to excellence on and off the court has earned the trust of Illinois Director of Athletics Josh Whitman, who praised Dancer’s relentless drive and leadership. Moving forward, Dancer looks to build upon an impressive 382-178 record, further cementing his title as the winningest coach in team history.
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Improved performance, recent success
Illinois’ improved returning game brought much of its recent success. Dancer credited last week’s performance to the team’s overall improvement in that area. After shutting out the Badgers 7-0 on Sunday, the Illini are riding a streak of six consecutive straight-set singles victories. The home break this past week was crucial as it gave the team time to recover from injuries sustained during road losses to Baylor and Ohio State.
The squad is also growing closer and more comfortable with each match. Much of that chemistry has been fueled by its recent progress in doubles play. Confidence is buzzing throughout the team as the Illini look to snap their two-match road losing streak.
Edge in singles play
Despite strong overall records, neither Purdue nor Indiana has a ranked singles player. This is an advantage Illinois will look to exploit behind juniors No. 48 William Mroz and No. 12 Kenta Miyoshi, both of whom have significantly elevated their game in recent weeks. The Illini will aim to execute at a higher level and maintain momentum heading into this key conference matchup.
Illinois eyes additional triumphs
This collective momentum could translate into impressive victories in the upcoming matches against Purdue and Indiana. With success from players like Mroz and Miyoshi, Illinois can continue winning in the Big Ten.
Under Dancer’s leadership, the team has become stronger and more confident, aiming to extend its win streak and stay on top of the conference.
