College Tennis News - No. 5 Ohio State Beats No. 29 Illinois, 4-3

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The fifth-ranked Ohio State men’s tennis team improved to 25-2 on the season with a 4-3 win over 29th-ranked Illinois Friday afternoon at the Atkins Tennis Center in Urbana, Ill. Ohio State sits atop the Big Ten standings with a perfect 8-0 conference record.

For just the second time this season Ohio State dropped the doubles point and began singles play down 1-0. No.33 Blaz Rola and Kevin Metka opened play with an 8-5 victory over Farris Gosea and Brian Page. The 16th-ranked tandem of Peter Kobelt and Connor Smith dropped a tight match against No. 19 Ross Guignon and Tim Kopinski 9-8 (7-3). In the third doubles match, the Buckeyes fell in another close contest. No. 32 Devin McCarthy and Ille Van Engelen lost 9-8 (7-3) to Alex Jesse and Jared Hiltzik.

In singles action, Ohio State regained the lead with wins on courts Nos. 4 and 5. First No. 84 McCarthy defeated Stephen Hoh 6-3, 6-1. Then No. 61 Chris Diaz beat Gosea 6-3, 6-2. Illinois tied the match at two points apiece when No. 36 Hiltzik handed ninth-ranked Rola his first loss of the season by a 6-4, 7-5 margin on court No. 1. The Buckeyes regained a one point edge when sixth-ranked Kobelt rallied to a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Kopinski. The match-winning point was earned by Smith, ranked 63rd, on court No. 3. The Tampa, Fla. native beat Guignon by a 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 margin.

Up Next
The Buckeyes will continue their weekend road trip as they face No. 34 Northwestern at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Tennis Match Results
Ohio State vs. Illinois
Apr 12, 2013 at Urbana, Ill.
(Atkins Tennis Center)

#5 Ohio State 4, Illinois 3

Singles competition
1. #36 Jared Hiltzik (ILL) def. #9 Blaz Rola (OSU) 6-4, 7-5
2. #6 Peter Kobelt (OSU) def. Tim Kopinski (ILL) 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
3. #63 Connor Smith (OSU) def. Ross Guignon (ILL) 6-2, 3-6, 6-3
4. #84 Devin McCarthy (OSU) def. Stephen Hoh (ILL) 6-3, 6-1
5. #61 Chris Diaz (OSU) def. Farris Gosea (ILL) 6-3, 6-2
6. Alex Jesse (ILL) def. Hunter Callahan (OSU) 5-7, 7-6 (9-7), 1-0 (10-6)

Doubles competition
1. #19 Ross Guignon/Tim Kopinski (ILL) def. #16 Peter Kobelt/Connor Smith (OSU) 9-8 (7-3)
2. Alex Jesse/Jared Hiltzik (ILL) def. #32 Devin McCarthy/Ille Van Engelen (OSU) 9-8 (7-3)
3. #33 Blaz Rola/Kevin Metka (OSU) def. Farris Gosea/Brian Page (ILL) 8-5

Match Notes:
Ohio State 25-2, 8-0 B1G; National ranking #5
Illinois 12-9, 5-3 B1G
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (4,5,1,2,3,6)
Official: Lynda Hinschaw T-4:22 A-189