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May 9, 2009

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - - The 21st ranked University of Louisville men's tennis team won the doubles point, but host 13th ranked Illinois picked up four singles wins to beat the Cards 4-1 in the NCAA second round Saturday afternoon at the Khan Outdoor Tennis Club.

"We are really disappointed about this result," said U of L head coach Rex Ecarma. "We felt like we were going to advance to the round of sixteen and we had a lot of confidence in ourselves. We won the doubles point with great play at courts 1 and 3. We played with a lot of heart and mental toughness. Austen Childs took control in the first set and things were looking our way, but they quuickly turned around. Alejandro Calligari, who is usually a strong player for us, lost solidly to their No. 4 to even the score. Viktor Maksimcuk lost to give them 2-1 lead. Simon Childs lost in a three set tiebreaker. Robert Hall was in tight match which could have done our way and didn't. We left Austen Childs and Andrew Carter battling on the court."

Louisville opened the match by taking the doubles point. The Illini struck first when 41st ranked Marc Spicijaric and Marek Czerwinski topped Sumit-Prakash Gupta and Austen Childs 8-3 at the No. 2 seed. Simon Childs and Viktor Maksimcuk topped 21st ranked Nennis Vevolo and Ruan Roelofse 8-6 at the top seed as while Alejandro and Robert Hall teamed to beat Meedo El Tabakh and Brian Livingston 8-6 to clinch the point.

Illinois rattled off wins at Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 6 to get the 4-1 win. Czerwinski evened the match with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Calligari at No. 4. No. 50 Roy Kalmanovich defeated Maksimcuk 6-3, 6-3 at the two-spot to give the Illini a 2-1 lead. No. 39 Dennis Nevolo edged No. 125 Simon Childs 6-4, 7-6(7-2) on court 3 and Roelofse's 6-4, 6-4 win over Hall clinched the match.

"Overall we played average tennis," said Ecarma. "Usually do a great job of finishing off sets, but today We lost so many close sets, really felt this was a winnable region for us, wanted to get to sweet sixteen and do some damage. Hope this young team can use this disappointment to make them train harder and use it next season. Next year our goal is to host a regional - and be in the top 12 and to advance to round of 16. Starting tomorrow, that's what we'er going to focus on.

The Cards close the season with a 21-8 record.

#13 University of Illinois 4, #21 University of Louisville 1
Singles
1. #73 Marc Spicijaric (ILL) vs. #28 Austen Childs (UL) 6-7 (7-9), 4-4, unfinished
2. #50 Roy Kalmanovich (ILL) def. #96 Viktor Maksimcuk (UL) 6-3, 6-3
3. #39 Dennis Nevolo (ILL) def. Simon Childs (UL) 6-4, 7-6 (7-2)
4. Marek Czerwinski (ILL) def. Alejandro Calligari (UL) 6-2, 6-2
5. Abe Souza (ILL) vs. Andrew Carter (UL) 7-6 (7-3), 5-5, unfinished
6. Ruan Roelofse (ILL) def. Robert Hall (UL) 6-4, 6-4
Order of finish (4,2,3,6)
Doubles
1. S. Childs/Maksimcuk (UL) def. #21 Nevolo/Roelofse (ILL) 8-6 2. #41 Spicijaric/Czerwinski (ILL) def. Sumit-Prakash Gupta/A. Childs (UL) 8-3 3. Calligari/Hall (UL) def. Meedo El Tabakh/Brian Livingston (ILL) 8-6 Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3)

Match Notes:
University of Louisville 21-8; National ranking #21
University of Illinois 23-8; National ranking #13