Illinois Secures Home Wins Against Illinois State, #8 Baylor

URBANA, Ill. – Illinois secured victories over Illinois State (4-0) and No. 8 Baylor (4-1) at Atkins Tennis Center on Friday.

Having now won back-to-back doubleheaders en route to a four-game winning streak, the Fighting Illini improved to 8-3 and face one more test against No. 6 TCU on Saturday before heading into conference play.

"Today was really good for the guys, especially for the top of the lineup," said head coach Brad Dancer. "We're looking forward to the challenge ahead against TCU tomorrow."

Illinois 4, Illinois State 0

Illinois started the day with a dominant 4-0 in-state win over Illinois State. 

The Illini took the doubles point and recorded singles victories in the No. 1, 4, and 5 spots.

Illinois grabbed the doubles point with wins at the No. 1 and 3 spots. William Mroz and Tyler Bowers were first to finish with a 6-1 win over Adrian Dibildox and Christian Capacci of Illinois State. Hayden Jones and Jeremy Zhang quickly followed with a 6-1 victory of their own over the Redbird duo of Jett Leong and Finn Logue. 

Singles play continued the Illini's great play with Zhang bolting out to a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Caden Scarlett. Sasha Colleu was not far behind as he made quick work of Jeff Leong in a 6-1, 6-0 victory. 

To close the match out, Kenta Miyoshi defeated Adrian Dibildox 6-1, 6-2.

Doubles

No. 1: William Mroz/Tyler Bowers (Illinois) def. Adrian Dibildox/Christian Capacci (Illinois State), 6-1
No. 2: Adam Jilly/David Bakonyi (Illinois) vs. Tin Ostro/Caden Scarlett (Illinois State), 4-3, unfinished
No. 3: Hayden Jones/Jeremy Zhang (Illinois) def. Jett Leong/Finn Logue (Illinois State), 6-1

Order of finish: 1, 3

Singles

No. 1: #22 Kenta Miyoshi (Illinois) def. Adrian Dibildox (Illinois State), 6-1, 6-2
No. 2: Hayden Jones (Illinois) vs. Christian Capacci (Illinois State), 6-2, 2-4, unfinished
No. 3: Adam Jilly (Illinois) vs. Tin Ostro (Illinois State), 6-2, 2-1, unfinished
No. 4: Sasha Colleu (Illinois) def. Jett Leong (Illinois State), 6-0, 6-1
No. 5: Jeremy Zhang (Illinois) def. Caden Scarlett (Illinois State), 6-0, 6-0
No. 6: Zach Viiala (Illinois) vs. Finn Logue (Illinois State), 6-4, 2-1, unfinished

Order of finish: 5, 4, 1

Illinois 4, No. 8 Baylor 1

The Illini grabbed their second win of the day and now fourth in a row with a 4-1 victory over No. 8 Baylor. 

Illinois continued its four-game streak of doubles points as well and snagged singles wins at the No. 1, 2, and 4 positions. The Illini now move to 8-3 on the season.

The Orange and Blue drew first blood with a 6-3 victory by Gabriel Debru and Tyler Bowers over Baylor's Alexandru Chirita and Zsombor Velcz on Court 1. On Court 2, Kenta Miyoshi and William Mroz finished the job with a 6-4 victory over Luc Koenig and Connor Henry Van Schalkwyk.

Adam Jilly started the singles action for Illinois with a 6-2, 6-1 win over No. 73 Alexandru Chirita of Baylor, marking his fourth ranked singles win of the season. Debru also snagged his third ranked triumph of the season with 6-4, 6-0 victory over No. 13 Devin Badenhorst. 

Miyoshi would go the distance against No. 39 Zsombor Velcz, outlasting the Hungarian in three sets, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, to secure a top-10 win for the Illini. 

Doubles

No. 1: Gabriel Debru/Tyler Bowers (Illinois) def. Alexandru Chirita/Zsombor Velcz (Baylor), 6-3
No. 2: Kenta Miyoshi/William Mroz (Illinois) def. Luc Koenig/Connor Henry Van Schalkwyk (Baylor), 6-4
No. 3: Devin Badenhorst/Blake Anderson (Baylor) def. Zach Viiala/Sasha Colleu (Illinois), 6-3

Order of finish: 1, 3, 2

Singles

No. 1: Gabriel Debru (Illinois) def. #13 Devin Badenhorst (Baylor), 6-4, 6-0
No. 2: #22 Kenta Miyoshi (Illinois) def. #39 Zsombor Velcz (Baylor), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
No. 3: #27 Connor Henry Van Schalkwyk (Baylor) def. William Mroz (Illinois), 7-6(3), 6-4
No. 4: Adam Jilly (Illinois) def. #73 Alexandru Chirita (Baylor), 6-2, 6-1
No. 5: Hayden Jones (Illinois) vs. Luc Koenig (Baylor), 3-6, 6-6, unfinished
No. 6: Sasha Colleu (Illinois) vs. Louis Bowden (Baylor) 6-4, 5-7, 0-1, unfinished

Order of finish: 4, 1, 3, 2 

UP NEXT

Illinois closes its nonconference schedule on Saturday night with a ranked matchup against No. 6 TCU. First serve between the Fighting Illini and the Horned Frogs is slated for 6 p.m. CT at Atkins Tennis Center.