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The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

The Daily Illini
The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

The Daily Illini
The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

The Daily Illini
The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

The Daily Illini
Conor Blount

Conor Blount, Senior Sports Reporter

My name is Conor Blount. I’m a junior in aerospace engineering with a minor in computer science. I joined The Daily Illini in the summer of 2022 as a beat writer for the sports section and am now one of three assistant sports editors. My first beat was women’s tennis before I moved to women’s basketball in the spring. I also had the pleasure of covering several former Illini at the 2023 NFL draft and NBA summer league. If you have any questions, I can be reached at the email below.

Forward Kendall Bostic keeps the ball away from the opposing team during a game against Alcorn on Nov. 13. The Illini remain undefeated after yesterday's match against Oakland and will be hitting the road until their return to home on Dec. 7.

Illinois women’s basketball closes home stand with fifth consecutive 20-point victory

By Conor Blount, Staff Writer • November 22, 2022
Junior guard Makira Cook looks for someone to pass during the game against Alcorn State on Sunday.

Illinois women’s basketball remains undefeated after 39-point victory against Evansville

By Conor Blount, Staff Writer • November 19, 2022
Junior gaurd Makira Cook goes for the layup during the game against LIU on Nov. 9.

Illinois women’s basketball claims largest victory of season in 100-38 game against McNeese State

By Conor Blount, Staff Writer • November 16, 2022
Guard Jada Peebles looks for an opening against Alcorn State on Sunday. The Illini guard was confirmed to be returning for another year on June 14.

Illinois women’s basketball earns second win of Shauna Green era

By Conor Blount, Staff Writer • November 13, 2022
Junior Kate Duong and sophomore Megan Heuser receive their doubles championship check during yesterday's event at Atkins Tennis Center. During today's game, Duong and Heuser defeated their opponents in two sets which led the duo to earn their first professional doubles championship.

Illinois women’s tennis caps off fall season with doubles championship at Fighting Illini Open

By Conor Blount, Staff Writer • November 12, 2022
Illinois women's head coach Shauna Green watches the team from the sidelines during the second half of the game against LIU on Wednesday.

Illinois women’s basketball signs pair of guards for recruiting class of 2023

By Conor Blount, Staff Writer • November 10, 2022
Jonathan Yuen, senior in Engineering, and Maya Korol, senior in LAS, are both members of Illini 4000. I4K is a student-run organization that holds a yearly 4000-mile bike ride from the East to the West Coast.

Illini 4000: Fighting cancer on two wheels

By Conor Blount, Staff Writer • November 10, 2022
Junior forward Kendall Bostic goes for the lay up during the second half against LIU on Wednesday.

Illinois women’s basketball opens season with decisive 35-point victory at home

By Conor Blount, Staff Writer • November 9, 2022
Sophomore guard Adalia McKenzie looks at the Illinois sideline during the game against LIU on Wednesday.

Illinois women’s basketball opens season at home against LIU

By Conor Blount, Staff Writer • November 9, 2022
Illinois women’s tennis head coach Evan Clark speaks with the team before their matches against Eastern Illinois on Jan. 23.

Illinois women’s tennis head coach Evan Clark extends contract through 2025–26 season

By Conor Blount, Staff Writer • November 8, 2022

Illinois women’s tennis closes fall season at home in Fighting Illini Women’s Open USTA/ITF 15k

By Conor Blount, Staff Writer • November 6, 2022
Sophomore Megan Heuser receives the ball from doubles partner, junior Kate Duong, during their doubles match against Rutgers on March 27.

Illinois women’s tennis defeats No. 1 doubles team to cap off historic ITA doubles run

By Conor Blount, Staff Writer • November 4, 2022
Junior Katie Duong (left) and sophomore Megan Heuser (right) head back out onto the court during their match against Indiana on Feb. 5.

Illinois women’s tennis sends duo to ITA National Championships for third time in program history

By Conor Blount, Staff Writer • November 2, 2022
Sophomore Megan Heuser and Junior Kate Duong celebrate a great doubles performance on Feb. 6. In a collective effort, Duong and Heuser won the double draws at Michigan's ITA Midwest Regionals, earning the duo placement in the ITA National Championships.

Illini duo earns berth to ITA National Championships, wins Regional Championship

By Conor Blount, Staff Writer • October 24, 2022
Sophomore Kasia Treiber eyes the ball during her singles match against Rutgers on March 27.

Illinois women’s tennis heads to Ann Arbor for biggest competition of fall season

By Conor Blount, Staff Writer • October 20, 2022
Sophomore Kida Ferrari celebrates a score on Jan. 23. against Chicago state resulting in a 4-0 victory for the Illini. During the June Stewart Invitational the Illini faced many struggles throughout the invitational however, Ferrari gave a good performance resulting in a singles win for the Illini.

Illinois women’s tennis struggles in return to June Stewart Invitational

By Conor Blount, Staff Writer • October 9, 2022
Sophomore Kasia Treiber eyes the ball during her singles match against Rutgers on March 27.

Illinois women’s tennis travels to Nashville, Tenn. with hope of continuing early season dominance

By Conor Blount, Staff Writer • October 5, 2022
Junior Kate Duong competes in her singles match against Illinois State on Feb. 6. Duong and senior Ashley Yeah competed in the ITA All-American Championships this past weekend.

Illinois women’s tennis makes noise at ITA All-American Championships

By Conor Blount, Staff Writer • October 4, 2022
Associate head coach German Dalmargo speaks with doubles partners senior Emily Casati (middle) and sophomore Lasia Treiber during their match against Rutgers on March 27.

Illinois women’s tennis finishes weekend with .500 record at Alabama’s Five-In-The-Fall event

By Conor Blount, Staff Writer • October 2, 2022
Senior Ashley Yeah prepares to hit the ball during her singles match against Rutgers on March 27.

Illinois women’s tennis looks to divide and conquer at competitions in Alabama, North Carolina

By Conor Blount, Staff Writer • October 1, 2022
Senior athletes Ashley Yeah and Josie Frazier get ready for the opposing team's rally back on Feb. 13. Although facing slight adversity Yeah and Frazier swept the competition away resulting in the Illini taking the singles and doubles championship at the UTR College Circuit from Saturday to Monday.

Illinois women’s tennis dominates UTR College Circuit with singles, doubles championship

By Conor Blount, Staff Writer • September 26, 2022
Senior Ashley Yeah serves the ball during her singles match against Rutgers on March 27. Yeah won all six of her matches during the Wahoowa Invite in Virginia last weekend.

Illinois women’s tennis looks to capitalize on hot start while hosting UTR College Circuit

By Conor Blount, Staff Writer • September 24, 2022
Grainger research aims for the skies

Grainger research aims for the skies

By Conor Blount, Staff Writer • September 22, 2022
Senior Ashley Yeah readies to hit the ball during her match against Rutgers on March 27. Yeah was one of four Illinois women's tennis players to attend the Wahoowa Invite in Virginia this past weekend.

Illinois women’s tennis makes impressive return to Wahoowa Invite

By Conor Blount, Staff Writer • September 19, 2022
The Illinois women's tennis team huddle on the court as they watch their intro video before their matches against Rutgers on March 27. The Illini will begin their season this weekend for the Wahoowa Invite in Virginia.

Illinois women’s tennis begins fall season with Wahoowa Invite

By Conor Blount, Staff Writer • September 15, 2022
Sophomore wide receiver Isaiah Williams stiff arms Virginia defender to ground. Illinois dominated Virginia in blowout fashion, 24-3.

Illinois dominates Virginia 24-3 in revenge game, remains undefeated at home

By Conor Blount, Staff Writer • September 10, 2022
Forward Ashley Prell hand five the team before facing off against Texas A&M on Thursday. Despite the Illini's efforts to hold off the Texas A&M they were unable to stop them from securing the victory.

Illinois soccer falls to No. 18 Texas A&M in first home loss of season

By Conor Blount, Staff Writer • September 2, 2022

Underwood recaps Illinois men’s basketball summer workouts

By Conor Blount, Staff Writer • August 21, 2022
Sophomore Kasia Treiber prepares to hit the ball during her singles match against Rutgers on March 27. Treiber feels more confident and prepared for her second year on the Illinois women’s tennis team compared to her previous season.

Kasia Treiber hones in on ‘aggressive game style’ ahead of sophomore season

By Conor Blount, Staff Writer • August 20, 2022
Sophomore guard RJ Melendez goes for the lay up during the Big Ten Tournament game against Indiana on March 11. Brad Underwood, Illinois men's basketball head coach, discusses Melendez's impressive 30-pound weight increase.

Underwood recaps Illinois men’s basketball summer workouts

By Conor Blount, Staff Writer • August 14, 2022
Women's Tennis head coach Evan Clark heads over to have a quick chat with athletes on Feb. 6, 2021. Clark opens up about the team not being found on the upcoming NCAA tournament and taking advantage of the upcoming season to continue to improve.

Head coach Evan Clark weighs in on Illinois women’s tennis missing the 2022 NCAA tournament

By Conor Blount, Staff Writer • August 8, 2022
Former center Kofi Cockburn guards an Indiana player during the Big Ten Tournament first round game on March 11. Cockburn was recruited internationally from Jamaica in 2019.

’The European market is a good one for us‘: Brad Underwood weighs in on international recruiting after picking up Perrin

By Conor Blount, Contributing Writer • July 10, 2022
The Illinois cross country team begin their run at the Joe Pian Invitational on Oct. 1. The program welcomes three new recruits: Alex Partlow, Brady Masters and Audrey Ginsberg.

Illinois cross country program adds three new faces to rosters

By Conor Blount, Contributing Writer • July 2, 2022
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