April 20, 2008
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IOWA CITY, IA – The 53rd-ranked University of Iowa men’s tennis team lost to 17th-ranked Illinois 7-0, Sunday on senior day at the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex. With the loss, the Hawkeyes finish the regular season at 12-9 overall and 4-6 in Big Ten play.
The Illini claimed the doubles point to begin the dual, taking all three matches. The duo of 46th-ranked seniors Bart van Monsjou and J.P. Ritchie played their final regular season match together. The pair battled eighth-ranked Heiser/Rowe but ultimately lost 8-6. At No. 2 doubles, Greg Holm and Patrick Dwyer paired up again Sunday. The two were defeated 8-3 by Gonzales/Spicijaric. In addition, Christian Bierich and Austen Kauss fell 8-4 to Chin/Davis at No. 3 doubles.
Iowa battled Illinois in singles play, but eventually the Illini swept all six matches. Each match was close and three took three sets to complete. Senior Bart van Monsjou, ranked 74th nationally, lost 6-2, 6-3, to 53rd-ranked Ruben Gonzales. At No. 2 singles, Christian Bierich was defeated 7-5, 6-2, by 13th-ranked Ryan Rowe. J.P. Ritchie led early against Marc Spicijaric, but lost 4-6, 7-5, 1-0 (7). Additionally at No. 4 singles, Reinoud Haal fell to 103rd-ranked Billy Heiser, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
“It was a much closer match than the team score indicated,” said Head Coach Steve Houghton. “We lost three, three-setters and a couple of other close singles matches. I thought we played them tough. We are looking forward to the Big Ten Tournament.”
Iowa has completed its regular season schedule. The Hawkeyes will host the Big Ten Championships beginning Thursday at the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex. Iowa, the eight seed in the tournament, will face ninth-seeded Indiana Thursday at 9 a.m.
#53 Iowa - 0#17 Illinois - 7
Doubles:1.) #8 Heiser/Rowe (ILL) def. #46 van Monsjou/Ritchie (IOWA) 8-62.) Gonzales/Spicijaric (ILL) def. Holm/Dwyer (IOWA) 8-33.) Chin/Davis (ILL) def. Bierich/Kauss (IOWA) 8-4
Singles:1.) #53 Ruben Gonzales (ILL) def. #74 Bart van Monsjou (IOWA) 6-2, 6-32.) #13 Ryan Rowe (ILL) def. Christian Bierich (IOWA) 7-5, 6-23.) Marc Spicijaric (ILL) def. J.P. Ritchie (IOWA) 4-6, 7-5, 1-0 (7)4.) #103 Billy Heiser (ILL) def. Reinoud Haal (IOWA) 3-6, 6-3, 6-45.) Waylon Chin (ILL) def. Tommy McGeorge (IOWA) 7-6 (6), 6-06.) Connor Roth (ILL) def. Greg Holm (IOWA) 6-4, 6-7 (5), 1-0 (8)="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>
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