No. 14 Illinois (19-5, 8-2) found its winning ways as it captured an undefeated three-game homestand over Eastern Kentucky (11-14), No. 62 Indiana (9-9, 3-6) and Purdue (4-14, 0-9) from Friday to Sunday.
The Illini opened play Friday against the Colonels and secured a 5-2 win. The next event of the day came against Indiana, as Illinois’ momentum carried it to a 4-0 victory.
Sunday held the last competition for the Illini, as the team squared off against the Boilermakers. Illinois was able to keep Purdue at bay with a 4-0 win.
No. 37 freshman Gabriel Debru was a crucial asset to the team, as he secured three consecutive singles wins over the weekend. Before the weekend, Debru had suffered three straight singles losses against three top 50 opponents.
However, the freshman found his form this weekend, and his comeback was a defining moment.
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No-go for the Colonels
A dominant doubles performance helped the Illini start strong against the Colonels. Redshirt junior Tyler Bowers and freshman Hayden Jones got the first doubles win for Illinois. They defeated EKU freshmen Ilie Cazac and Joao Barreto in a 6-3 bout on Court 2.
The game was leveled as EKU seniors Fernando Bulnes and Adrian Contreras defeated Illinois junior Jeremy Zhang and freshman Adam Jilly. The Colonel duo defeated the Illini 6-4 on Court 3.
However, Illinois got the last laugh on Court 1, as freshman David Bakonyi and redshirt sophomore Zach Viiala secured the doubles point in a 6-4 win over EKU senior Nuno Pinheiro and freshman Marek Nano.
This is the second straight doubles point for Illinois after the loss to Ohio State. As the Illini look to return to form, singles proved to be a momentum swing to bring them success.
The Illini put the game away in three straight competitions on Courts 1, 4 and 2.
On Court 1, No. 17 senior Kenta Miyoshi secured the first singles victory over Pinheiro. Miyoshi secured a bagel in the first set, going 6-0, then won 6-3 in the second to push the Illini’s momentum forward.
On Court 4, freshman Sasha Colleu grabbed Illinois’ second singles point and third overall point. Colleu defeated Cazac in two swift sets, first 6-3, then 6-2.
Debru also captured victory, securing the team’s fourth point in a singles win. Debru defeated Nano on Court 2, in yet another two-set Illini win. Debru swept past Nano with a dual 6-3 outing.
In extra singles matches, the Colonels captured two wins on Courts 3 and 6. Bulnes defeated Jones on Court 3 in two sets, going 6-2 and 6-4. Contreras grabbed the second straight Colonel victory, defeating Bakonyi in two sets, going dual 6-4.
The last bout of the match came up in Illinois’ final win, as Zhang defeated Barreto in two sets; first with a defiant 6-4 win, then with a close 7-5 tiebreaker to close out the set.
The match, despite being in the Illini’s favor from the start, was a back-to-form. This was especially true for Debru, as he secured his first win in almost a month since Illinois’ battle against Oregon.
Illini send Hoosiers packing
The Illini opened their second match of the day against the Hoosiers just a couple of hours later. Just like before, the Atkins Tennis Center proved to be a place of success for Illinois.
The doubles battle opened with Debru and Bowers paired together on Court 1. You could almost imagine this duo playing with their eyes closed as they defeated Indiana redshirt junior Facundo Yunis and senior Jip van Assendelft in a speedy 6-1 win to put the doubles point in the favor of the Illini.
This puts the duo back in the win column after they lost their last two doubles matches together.
Bakonyi and Viiala continued their winning ways on Court 3, securing their second straight doubles win. The duo defeated Indiana redshirt freshman Aidan Atwood and sophomore Matteo Antonescu in yet another swift 6-1 victory.
The duo has been electric so far this season, as they hold the Illini’s best overall duo’s record at 7-1.
With the doubles point in their favor, Illinois needed to excel in singles play.
Viiala was the first to get in the singles win column with a steady victory over Indiana senior Deacon Thomas. Viiala secured the win on Court 6 after putting up dual 6-3s for the win. This puts the redshirt sophomore back in the win column after suffering defeat at Ohio State. With the win, he goes to 11-1 on the season so far.
Debru stepped up to the challenge once again and secured the third straight point for the Illini. Debru defeated Yunis in two sets, first going toe-to-toe in a 6-4 bout, then recording his second bagel of the weekend to close out the duel.
Jilly closed out the Illini campaign with another speedy two-set win on Court 4. Jilly is responsible for yet another game-winning set victory, continuing to prove his grit in the latter parts of the season. The freshman toppled Indiana sophomore Braeden Gelletich, going 6-3, then 6-2 to close out the set.
Illinois’ victory over Indiana continues key narratives that have played throughout the season. First, the Illini’s budding strength on the doubles court has proved time and time again to be getting better and better. Second, despite a struggle in the middle of the season, Debru has again cemented himself as an Illini winner, getting consecutive wins for the first time in a month. Finally, Jilly proved himself as a crucial end-game asset with consistent strength to put the game over the winning edge.
Illini send Boilermakers off the rails
The Illini were able to yet again flex their muscles in competition against the Boilermakers in their third match of the weekend.
In doubles, the No. 52 pairing of Miyoshi and No. 76 senior William Mroz got Illinois started on Court 2. The ranked duo secured the first doubles win by going 6-4 over Purdue sophomore Nour Fathalla and junior Stefan Simeunovic.
This win puts the ranked duo at 7-1 so far on the season, just behind the next victorious duo.
Bakonyi and Viiala grabbed the doubles win on Court 3 with a 6-3 bout over Purdue freshmen Jacob Lee and Nikola Jovic. This win for the duo puts them at 8-1 on the year and continues their stand as the Illini’s winningest doubles pair.
Just like against Indiana, as doubles proved to be strong, singles proved to be even better.
Debru opened up singles scoring on Court 2. The freshman won in two sets, going dual 6-2 over Purdue junior Henrik Villanger. This marks the third straight win for the Illini freshman, a staggering mark as he has turned his singles season around.
Viiala was next on Court 5, proving his strength yet again with another two-set victory. The redshirt sophomore defeated Lee by going 6-4 and 6-2 to inch the Illini closer to victory.
Viiala’s success continued after his loss against Ohio State; this win marked his second straight singles victory to put him at 12-1 on the year.
Mroz wrapped things up for the Illini on Court 3. Mroz sent Purdue sophomore Maj Premzel packing with two 6-2 set victories to win the last singles point. This win puts Mroz on his second straight singles victory.
Looking ahead
Illinois will be heading on its final away trip of the Big Ten season as it heads to Los Angeles to take on No. 22 UCLA (13-5, 7-2) Saturday and No. 26 USC (14-6, 6-3) Sunday.
