#10 Illini Drop 4-3 Thriller Against Michigan State

URBANA, Ill. – The No. 10-ranked Fighting Illini saw their 11-match winning streak come to an end with a 4-3 loss to Michigan State on Sunday evening at Atkins Tennis Center.

Illinois collected singles victories on Courts 2, 3, and 5, but it was not enough as the Spartans claimed the doubles point and singles wins on Courts 1, 4, and 6.

The visitors took the doubles point after getting wins on Courts 1 and 2. David Bakonyi and Zach Viiala teamed up for a ranked victory at No. 3 doubles, defeating No. 30 Aristotelis Thanos/Mitchell Sheldon after getting a break in the eighth game of their match.

The Orange and Blue responded by winning four of the six opening sets in singles play. William Mroz was the first to finish, picking up a ranked triumph with his dominant 6-3, 6-2 result over No. 36 Ozan Baris on Court 3. Illinois then went in front with Kenta Miyoshi's 6-3, 6-3 decision at No. 2 singles against No. 11 Matthew Forbes, marking his highest ranked win of the season.

Michigan State accounted for the next two singles wins before Viiala secured a three-set victory over Taym Alazmeh on Court 5. After splitting the opening two sets, the Illini redshirt sophomore won the last five games in the final frame to close out the win.

The match ultimately came down to Court 4, where Adam Jilly battled Danial Rakhmatullayev. After Jilly took the opening set, the Spartan sophomore responded by taking the next two frames, which sealed the Michigan State win.

RESULTS

Doubles
No. 1: #18 Taym Alazmeh/Danial Rakhmatullayev (Michigan State) def. Gabriel Debru/Tyler Bowers (Illinois), 6-2
No. 2:  Ozan Baris/Matthew Forbes (Michigan State) def. #41 William Mroz/Kenta Miyoshi (Illinois), 7-6(2)
No. 3:  Zach Viiala/David Bakonyi (Illinois) def. #30 Aristotelis Thanos/Mitchell Sheldon, 6-3

Order of finish: 3, 1, 2

Singles
No. 1: #50 Aristotelis Thanos (Michigan State) def. #28 Gabriel Debru (Illinois), 6-4, 6-1
No. 2: #23 Kenta Miyoshi (Illinois) def. #11 Matthew Forbes (Michigan State), 6-3, 6-3
No. 3: #101 William Mroz (Illinois) def. #36 Ozan Baris (Michigan State), 6-3, 6-2
No. 4: Danial Rakhmatullayev (Michigan State) def. Adam Jilly (Illinois), 5-7, 7-5, 6-2
No. 5:  Zach Viiala (Illinois) def. Taym Alazmeh (Michigan State), 6-4, 2-6, 6-1
No. 6: Mitchell Sheldon (Michigan State) def. Sasha Colleu (Illinois), 6-3, 7-5

Order of finish: 3, 2, 1, 6, 5, 4

UP NEXT

No. 10 Illinois heads east for a two-match road trip against No. 5 Ohio State and Penn State. The Illini will take on the Buckeyes on Friday at 5 p.m. CT before facing the Nittany Lions on Sunday.