Illinois Fighting Illini

BRucks said:
2011 - Lost to UCLA in championship game
2010 - Lost to Texas in regional semifinal
2009 - Lost to Hawaii in regional semifinal
2003 - Lost to Hawaii in regional semifinal
1998 - Lost to Long Beach State in regional semifinal
1995 - Lost to Texas in regional semifinal
1993 - Lost to Colorado in regional semifinal
1992 - Lost to Stanford in regional final
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Do you realize that this is a tennis message board? What are these results, baseball or basketball?
 
Here is what Illinois has done in the last 20 years.


1993: Didn't qualify
1994: Didn't qualify
1995: Didn't qualify
1996: NCAA 1st Rd
1997: NCAA 1st Rd
1998: NCAA 1st Rd
1999: Elite Eight
2000: Elite Eight
2001: NCAA 2nd round
2002: Elite Eight
2003: National Champions
2004: Final Four
2005: Sweet Sixteen
2006: Sweet Sixteen
2007: National Runner-Up
2008: Sweet Sixteen
2009: Sweet Sixteen
2010: NCAA 2nd round
2011: Sweet Sixteen
2012: Sweet Sixteen

So they've made at least the Sweet Sixteen in 12 of the last 14 years.
 
tball2day said:
Thanks Satsuma, really interesting stuff. You are doing this team an amazing service.
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It's been fun but time-consuming. Not sure if I'll be able to keep it up for long but it's great following the team and seeing everyone interested in them. Hope they have a good year this year.
 
Kevin Anderson goes down in his opening match, losing in the 2nd round of the Winston-Salem Open. This is his third straight loss now. Been hearing a bit how his knee is bothering him and that he's planning to have it checked after the Open. Hope he can bounce back.

Anderson Updates
 
Illinois has finished resurfacing the tennis courts. Not sure about the color scheme though. Outside of the lines looks baby blueish, not a great color in any way. Maybe it helps see the ball better but I wonder if there wasn't a better color combination. Maybe it'll look better in person and in other pics.

Illinois resurfaces tennis courts
 
Which courts will be used durning the NCAA? Will they compete only on the courts on the east side of the building or will they use the courts on the west side, too? What is the plan for additional seating for the tourney?
 
BRucks said:
Which courts will be used durning the NCAA? Will they compete only on the courts on the east side of the building or will they use the courts on the west side, too? What is the plan for additional seating for the tourney?
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I heard they were supposed to have everything done by the end of summer but Coach Dancer said in an interview that it was running behind schedule. Haven't heard after that. I'm sure they'll be working on it until the last minute before the championships in May.
 
Nostradamus said:
Why can't Illinois recruit some decent players like Novikov ? UCLA seem to have found a diamond in sea of sand
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Probably the only time I'll respond to something like this, but I just want to say that I'm not going to get into "discussions" like this. You can keep amusing yourself if you want.
 
Kind of interesting to see Ruben Gonzales teamed up with Ohio State's Blaz Rola in Austria this week. They're the third seeds. Gonzales has won his Futures events with a different partner the last two weeks so it will be interesting to see how these two play together.

Austria F9
 
Nostradamus said:
Why can't Illinois recruit some decent players like Novikov ? UCLA seem to have found a diamond in sea of sand
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Oh yeah, that's why UCLA fans are hoping he goes pro. Even if he was interested, Illinois probably wouldn't take him, as the many others that declined. Being good doesn't override the other crap.
 
For 2013 recruits, I've seen that George Goldhoff and Jack Murray, both blue chips, have expressed interest in coming to Illinois. Both are in the top 15 in this year's class so it would be great to see one or both come to Illinois.

2013 Prospects
 
Ruben Gonzales and Blaz Rola have made it to the semifinals of the Austria Futures. Barely made it out of the quarters but they made it. 2nd seeds up next.

Update: And they beat the second seeds as well! Into the finals.

Austria Futures
 
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The ITA announced their selections for the All-American Championships. From the Illini, Gosea is in the main draw, Abdelnour and Hoh are in qualifying, and Guignon and Kopinski are in pre-qualifying. In doubles, Gosea and Hiltzik are in the qualifying. Go Illini!

Illini All-American Selections
 
Former Illini Ruben Gonzales and present Buckeye (soon to be former?) Blaz Rola teamed up and won the Austrian Futures doubles tournament! They were seeded third and almost lost in the quarters (10-8 tiebreaker) but then ran right over the #2 and #1 seeds to take the title. Rola is also in the singles final.

Austrian F9 Futures
 
Satsuma,
I enjoy your updates on this. What is your best guess as to the lineup for next year? Probably not much difference between 1-6, right?
 
Will have to wait and see how the guys play in the fall but right now:

1. Abdelnour (he had a not-so-great summer though)
2. Hoh (he could be switched back and forth with Abdelnour)
3. Gosea (he does have the ATP ranking, ITA ranking and is the ITA Summer champion but still not No. 1 caliber I think)
4. Kopinski
5. Guignon (had to take the summer off from an injury but back at it, will be playing in the All-American pre qualifying so anxious to see how he'll do)
6. Hiltzik (our No. 1 recruit. Not sure where Dancer will start him, maybe as high as No. 3)

Page, Childers, and Jesse could be used in doubles. Page might show up in No. 6 singles sometimes.

That's my best guess. I think it's going to be a rough year but who knows. They might surprise.
 
Satsuma Illini said:
Will have to wait and see how the guys play in the fall but right now:

1. Abdelnour (he had a not-so-great summer though)
2. Hoh (he could be switched back and forth with Abdelnour)
3. Gosea (he does have the ATP ranking, ITA ranking and is the ITA Summer champion but still not No. 1 caliber I think)
4. Kopinski
5. Guignon (had to take the summer off from an injury but back at it, will be playing in the All-American pre qualifying so anxious to see how he'll do)
6. Hiltzik (our No. 1 recruit. Not sure where Dancer will start him, maybe as high as No. 3)

Page, Childers, and Jesse could be used in doubles. Page might show up in No. 6 singles sometimes.

That's my best guess. I think it's going to be a rough year but who knows. They might surprise.
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Hiltzik might be there best player but I don't think starting a freshman at 1 would be smart. I think Hoh and Hiltzik are their best two players.
 
10isplayer said:
Hiltzik might be there best player but I don't think starting a freshman at 1 would be smart. I think Hoh and Hiltzik are their best two players.
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If I remember right, Nevolo was playing at No. 1 sometimes during his freshman season. But I agree. I would rather see Hiltzik work his way up the positions first.
 
At the USA F24 Futures in Claremont, California, Both Rowe/Nguyen and Nevolo/Andrews have advanced to the doubles semifinals. In the singles, Rowe won and Nevolo lost their 1st round matches.

Illini in the USA F24

Update: Rowe lost to #2 seed Kosakowski in the second round, and Rowe/Nguyen and Nevolo/Andrews both lost in super tiebreakers in the semifinals.
 
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At the Illini Invitational in Illinois, the Illini went up against players from California, Kentucky, Pepperdine and Texas. They went 4-2 in singles and 2-4 in doubles. Hoh went 4-0 today. New Illini Hiltzik played a good match against #3 Fanselow. More tomorrow.

Fighting Illini Invitational
 
tball2day said:
Oh yeah, that's why UCLA fans are hoping he goes pro. Even if he was interested, Illinois probably wouldn't take him, as the many others that declined. Being good doesn't override the other crap.
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lol... internet forums, you often read the most misinformed things on it sometimes. plenty of schools wanted novikov. the ONE school that novikov wanted did not have room for him. if you want to know what's up, just ask novikov or any ucla player at the next futures or college tournament that you see them at. As for UCLA fans liking novikov, everyone has even prior to his Kzoo and US Open successes. That is pretty much why there was never a question of him going pro except for whenever I read it on this message board. novikov loves ucla, the fans like him back and he has unfinished business to take care of at ncaa's this year are all reasons why he is still playing college tennis.
 
Former Illini Rowe and Nevolo are in Costa Mesa Futures, Roelofse made it to a Challengers main draw in Turkey, and Ram is playing in the ATP ST. Petersburg Open in Russia. He's the top seed in doubles there. Go Illini!

Illini on Tour
 
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