No. 25 Illinois (4-2) secured its fourth-straight win, 4-3, over the Kentucky Wildcats (7-3) in a competitive road match on Sunday. As has been the case for much of the team’s success this spring, the tight win came thanks to the strong play of several Illini freshmen.
“Obviously, what can you say other than freshmen, freshmen, freshmen,” said head coach Brad Dancer to Fighting Illini Athletics.
After losing the doubles point, senior Kenta Miyoshi opened singles play with a loss on court 1. Fellow senior William Mroz defeated Kentucky’s Jaden Weekes 6-4, 6-2 on court 3.
This continued Mroz’s hot streak to open spring play. The senior has now won four straight since Illinois’ matchup against Columbia, and is 6-1 overall on the season.
Three out of the four victorious Illini on the singles courts were first-year players. However, Mroz’s win shifted the momentum away from the Wildcats.
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“We had senior Will Mroz just put his foot on the accelerator and not let up,” said Dancer to Fighting Illini Athletics. “Great leadership from him.”
Mroz’s momentum carried over to the rest of the team as freshmen stole the spotlight for the Illini. The turning point came when freshman Gabriel Debru captured his second set over junior Jack Loutit.
“To go on the road, to have Gabriel Debru battle back in the second to shift momentum, and then to see three freshmen go bam, bam, bam at 4, 5, and 6 was huge,” said Dancer to Fighting Illini Athletics.
Freshman Adam Jilly was next to capture a win, as the freshman secured court 4 over senior Charlelie Cosnet. Jilly defeated the Wildcat in a back-and-forth three-set win. The first set went the Illini’s way, 6-2. Despite dropping the second, Jilly grabbed a 6-2 victory in the final set.
The next victor for Illinois was freshman Hayden Jones. Jones has quietly become one of the most dominant players this season. He won his court in two swift sets, 6-0, 6-3. Additionally, this was Jones’ fourth-straight win, each of which the freshman took via a sweep.
Despite Debru ultimately falling short on court 2 to Loutit, the Illini pulled through with freshman Sasha Colleu taking court 6 in a two-set win.
This is the second win for the Illini over the Wildcats this season. Illinois previously defeated Kentucky at the ITA Kickoff Weekend in late January.
The Illini continue their away campaign as the team travels to South Bend, Indiana, to take on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (6-1) on Saturday.
