Jan. 31, 2004

The top-ranked Illinois men's tennis team continued its undefeated season (3-0) tonight with a win over No. 25 Pepperdine (2-1) at Atkins Tennis Center. The Fighting Illini won by a margin of 7-0, which registers as the second shutout for the Illini in the early season.

Behind wins at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles, the Illini captured the doubles point. In the deciding match, Ryler DeHeart and Pramod Dabir dispatched their Wave opponent 8-5. After a tie at five points a piece, DeHeart and Dabir finished the match by winning three straight points, to secure an Illini 1-0 lead. The senior duo of Phil Stolt and Brian Wilson defeated the No. 7 ranked doubles team by a score of 8-3 at No. 1. Stolt and Wilson's match against No. 7 Calle Hansen and Pedro Rico was the second top-10 opponent in as many matches.

After beating the No. 7 doubles team, both Stolt and Wilson were greeted with ranked opponents in singles action. Both Illini broke serve in the third set to win their respective matches to earn the final two points for Illinois on the night. Stolt defeated No. 29 Calle Hansen 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-1. Wilson defeated No. 31 Pedro Rico 6-1, 3-6, 6-2. Senior Michael Calkins, ranked 39th nationally, also won at No. 3 singles by defeating Alexis Rafidison 6-2, 6-3, to move his mark to 3-0 on the season.

Illinois 7, Pepperdine 0

DOUBLES:

1 Phil Stolt/Brian Wilson (ILL) 8
#7 Calle Hansen/Pedro Rico (Pepp) 3

2 #14 Michael Calkins/Chris Martin (ILL) 4
Scott Doerner/Alex Herrera (Pepp) 8

3 Ryler DeHeart/Pramod Dabir (ILL) 8
Alexis Rafidison/Kevin Borzenski (Pepp) 5

SINGLES:

1 Brian Wilson (ILL) 6 3 6
#31 Pedro Rico (Pepp) 1 6 2

2 Phil Stolt (ILL) 7 4 6
#29 Calle Hansen (Pepp) 6(4) 6 1

3 #39 Michael Calkins (ILL) 6 6
Alexis Rafidison (Pepp) 2 3

4 #47 Chris Martin (ILL) 6 6
Alex Herrera (Pepp) 1 1

5 #65 Ryler DeHeart (ILL) 6 6
Scott Doerner (Pepp) 1 4

6 GD Jones (ILL) 6 6
Richard Johnson (Pepp) 2 2