URBANA, Ill. – No. 11 Illinois extended its winning streak to seven matches behind wins over Northern Illinois and Oregon on Friday at Atkins Tennis Center.
The Fighting Illini defeated the in-state Huskies, 6-1, before opening conference play with a 4-0 sweep over the Ducks.
#11 Illinois 6, Northern Illinois 1
The Illini found early success in doubles play once again, claiming a 1-0 lead behind victories on Courts 2 and 3. David Bakonyi and Adam Jilly recorded their first collegiate win as a tandem with a 6-3 triumph on Court 2 before Gabriel Debru and Jeremy Zhang closed out doubles with a 6-3 decision at No. 3.
The Orange and Blue won all six first sets in singles, with Jilly finishing first with a 6-2, 6-2 victory on Court 3. Zach Viiala was not far behind, remaining perfect on the season and improving to 6-0 on the singles courts with his 6-2, 6-0 decision on Court 4.
Bakonyi ultimately clinched the Illini's sixth straight win with his 6-3, 6-1 outing at No. 6 singles, marking his fourth consecutive singles triumph.
After the Huskies avoided the sweep with a three-set triumph on the top singles court, Hayden Jones posted a two-set win on Court 2 before Zhang wrapped up the match with his straight-set victory at No. 5 singles.
RESULTS: #11 Illinois 6, Northern Illinois 1
Doubles
No. 1: Hayden Jones/William Mroz (Illinois) vs. Federico Scotuzzi/Lorenzo Leti Messina (Northern Illinois), 4-5, unfinished
No. 2: David Bakonyi/Adam Jilly (Illinois) def. Iker Gaztambide Arrastia/Nikola Puntaric (Northern Illinois), 6-3
No. 3: Gabriel Debru/Jeremy Zhang (Illinois) def. Iker Dellien Valasco/Chiao Bo Suo Nan (Northern Illinois), 6-3
Order of finish: 2, 3
Singles
No. 1: Iker Gaztambide Arrastia (Northern Illinois) def. #23 Kenta Miyoshi (Illinois), 3-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-6)
No. 2: Hayden Jones (Illinois) def. Lorenzo Leti Messina (Northern Illinois), 7-6(4), 6-4
No. 3: Adam Jilly (Illinois) def. Federico Scotuzzi (Northern Illinois), 6-2, 6-2
No. 4: Zach Viiala (Illinois) def. Chiao Bo Suo Nan (Northern Illinois), 6-2, 6-0
No. 5: Jeremy Zhang (Illinois) def. Pratyaksh LNU (Northern Illinois), 6-4, 7-5
No. 6: David Bakonyi (Illinois) def. Iker Dellien Valasco (Northern Illinois), 6-3, 6-1
Order of finish: 3, 4, 6, 1, 2, 5
#11 Illinois 4, Oregon 0
Illinois and Oregon battled back and forth in doubles play, with all three matches going to a tiebreaker. After the Ducks secured a victory on Court 1, the Illini claimed wins at No. 2 and 3 doubles to establish a 1-0 edge in the match.
The Orange and Blue took four of the six opening sets in singles play, and it was Zach Viiala whose match finished first. His dominant 6-0, 6-0 decision doubled the Illini advantage.
Soon after, William Mroz extended his singles winning streak to eight matches, all of which have come in straight sets, with his 6-4, 6-2 triumph on Court 3.
Gabriel Debru clinched the Fighting Illini victory with his 6-4, 6-4 outing at No. 2 singles.
RESULTS: #11 Illinois 4, Oregon 0
Doubles
No. 1: Matthew Burton/Pierre Mouesca (Oregon) def. Gabriel Debru/Tyler Bowers (Illinois), 7-6(0)
No. 2: Kenta Miyoshi/William Mroz (Illinois) def. Vlad Breazu/Declan Galligan (Oregon), 7-6(2)
No. 3: Zach Viiala/Bakonyi (Illinois) def. Cameron Burton/Lachlan Robertson (Oregon), 7-6(6)
Order of finish: 1, 3, 2
Singles
No. 1: #23 Kenta Miyoshi (Illinois) vs. Vlad Breazu (Oregon), 4-6, 4-5, unfinished
No. 2: #26 Gabriel Debru (Illinois) def. Pierre Mouesca (Oregon), 6-4, 6-4
No. 3: #70 William Mroz (Illinois) def. Sam Olszakowski (Oregon), 6-4, 6-2
No. 4: #111 Adam Jilly (Illinois) vs. Matthew Burton (Oregon), 3-6, 6-1, 3-2, unfinished
No. 5: Jeremy Zhang (Illinois) vs. Lachlan Robertson (Oregon), 7-6(3), 1-4, unfinished
No. 6: Zach Viiala (Illinois) def. Cameron Burton (Oregon), 6-0, 6-0
Order of finish: 6, 3, 2
UP NEXT
Illinois (11-3, 1-0 B1G) closes its eight-match homestand on Sunday afternoon, when the Illini host Washington at Atkins Tennis Center at 12 p.m. CT.
