http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/tennis Latest Illini SportsFacts stories for the News-Gazette en-us Copyright 2008, The News-Gazette, Inc. http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/rss Fri, 16 May 2008 12:36:00 PST URBANA – When the bracket for the NCAA championships was revealed, and the Illini saw who they could meet in the Round of 16, a roar erupted from the room. "It was pretty loud when we saw Ohio State," sophomore Billy Heiser said. "We were pretty excited." http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/tennis/2008/05/15/trip_to_elite_eight_on_the_line_for_illini_buckeyes/ Thu, 15 May 2008 14:00:00 CST Illinois and Ohio State will meet for a third time this season in a Sweet 16 men's tennis match at 3 p.m. Friday at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center in Tulsa, Okla. It marks the second consecutive NCAA showdown between the Big Ten powers. A year ago, Illinois upset No. 2 Ohio State 4-2 in the Sweet 16 after losing two earlier matches to the Buckeyes. http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/tennis/2008/05/12/buckeyes_illini_set_for_round_3_in_tennis/ Mon, 12 May 2008 14:00:00 CST URBANA – The drama from the NCAA regional was over. Most of the 200-plus fans had filed from Atkins Tennis Center to their cars. And then the Illini let it slip away. http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/tennis/2008/05/11/illini_move_on_to_sweet_16_in_familiar_fashion/ Sun, 11 May 2008 14:00:00 CST URBANA – If it turns out the Illinois men's tennis team opened a long NCAA tournament run with a 4-0 smackdown of Xavier, the origin of that run can be traced to, of all places, a sand volleyball court. There, on the corner of South Oak and Stadium Drive in Champaign, coach Brad Dancer utilizes a unique style of cross training. http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/tennis/2008/05/10/illini_take_leisurely_stroll_into_second_round/ Sat, 10 May 2008 14:00:00 CST ATLANTA – Illinois women's tennis coach Michelle Dasso knows her team has improved this season. It just wasn't enough to defeat Tennessee, the nation's 25th-ranked squad, in a first-round NCAA tournament match Friday. http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/tennis/2008/05/10/improved_illini_fall_to_volunteers/ Sat, 10 May 2008 14:00:00 CST URBANA – No matter the moment, the necklace never comes off. You wonder if it should. The gold medallion – a talisman, purchased in Roy Kalmanovich's native Russia – flops across his neck as he mocks a spring breeze with a ripped forehand at Atkins Tennis Center. It's still there as he curses an unforced error, and it was there after he celebrated a 6-2, 6-4 beatdown of an unsuspecting Indiana Hoosier in Kalmanovich's first collegiate match – less than two weeks from when his season could be over. http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/tennis/2008/05/09/russian_hopes_to_bring_good_luck_to_illini_in_ncaa_tournament/ Fri, 09 May 2008 14:00:00 CST URBANA – Before members of the 2007 Illinois women's tennis team went their separate ways last May, coach Michelle Dasso gave each returnee an informational packet for their summer training. On the last page was this team goal: Make the 2008 NCAA tournament. http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/tennis/2008/05/08/dassos_confidence_helped_team_reach_ncaa_tournament/ Thu, 08 May 2008 14:00:00 CST A weekly review and preview of Illini sports: http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/tennis/2008/05/08/illini_insider/ Thu, 08 May 2008 14:00:00 CST CHAMPAIGN – Sophomore Aja Evans and her Illinois track and field teammates tuned up for the Big Ten Outdoor Championships with strong performances Wednesday night at the Illinois Twilight meet. Evans set an outdoor school record in the shot put, going 55 feet, 8¼ inches. That broke Collinus Newsome's mark of 53-1 in 1996. http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/tennis/2008/05/01/evans_leads_outdoor_parade/ Thu, 01 May 2008 14:00:00 CST CHAMPAIGN – Linebacker J Leman and soccer standout Mary Therese McDonnell were awarded the Big Ten Medal of Honor at the school's awards banquet Tuesday night. Leman, a Champaign Central product who signed a free agent contract with the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night, was a consensus All-American and All-Big Ten first-teamer. http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/tennis/2008/04/30/top_honors_for_leman_mcdonnell/ Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:00:00 CST Staff writer Paul Klee might be the fastest text messager in the Midwest. FWIW, each Wednesday we'll utilize his GR8 skill to interview a text-savvy personality. THX to Illinois women's tennis coach Michelle Dasso, who answered our questions via text just minutes after she learned the Illini have returned to the national stage: http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/tennis/2008/04/30/textin_with_klee/ Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:00:00 CST IOWA CITY – His team has taken No. 2 Ohio State to the wire twice this month, but Illinois men's tennis coach Brad Dancer isn't taking any moral victories from the Illini's April 12 loss in Urbana and Sunday's 4-3 setback to the Buckeyes in the finals of the Big Ten Tournament. "It is obviously a very disappointing loss for the Illini today," Dancer said. "I felt like this was the second time that we had the Buckeyes on the ropes and were just not able to put them away. It also is disappointing because I know how hard this team worked all week and season to try and bring home a Big Ten title." http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/tennis/2008/04/28/title_eludes_mens_tennis/ Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:00:00 CST IOWA CITY, Iowa – Illinois and Ohio State, the Big Ten's dominant men's tennis programs, will duke it out for another league tournament title today. The 15th-ranked Illini advanced with a 4-1 win against Wisconsin in Saturday's semifinals. The two-time defending champion Buckeyes, ranked second nationally, topped Michigan 4-1. http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/tennis/2008/04/27/illini_get_another_shot_at_tennis_title/ Sun, 27 Apr 2008 14:00:00 CST WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Illinois' bid to make the NCAA women's tennis tournament received a boost with Friday's 4-3 upset of No. 34 Ohio State in the first round of the Big Ten tournament. The 43rd-ranked Illini, behind another clutch effort by Kristina Minor, rallied to reach the semifinals for the first time since 2003. They'll play top-ranked Northwestern today. http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/tennis/2008/04/26/minor_a_major_contributor/ Sat, 26 Apr 2008 14:00:00 CST ATHENS, Ga. – Illinois freshman gymnast Allison Buckley became Illinois' first NCAA All-American by tying for sixth place on the balance beam Thursday at the national championships. Buckley, the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, tallied a 9.825 on the beam to earn the honor. http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/tennis/2008/04/25/buckley_nabs_national_honor/ Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:00:00 CST WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Illinois men's golf team finished 7 strokes out of second place at the competitive Boilermaker Invitational on Sunday in the Illini's final tuneup heading into this week's Big Ten Championships. Illinois, which tied for sixth, beat three Big Ten schools and was 7 strokes behind second-place Michigan State. http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/tennis/2008/04/21/golfers_tune_up_for_big_tens/ Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:00:00 CST MINNEAPOLIS – Freshman Waylon Chin clinched No. 17 Illinois' 5-2 men's tennis victory Friday against Minnesota with his 6-4, 6-1 triumph at No. 5 singles. Chin teamed with senior Brandon Davis to earn a win at No. 3 doubles. http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/tennis/2008/04/19/chin_illini_give_gophers_fits_in_mens/ Sat, 19 Apr 2008 14:00:00 CST