Ohio State
Illinois (ITA Indoors)
Buckeyes Best Illini Again, Advance to ITA Indoor Quarters
2/17/2023 11:16:10 PM | Men's Tennis
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State opened the ITA Indoor Team National Championship on Friday night with a solid 4-0 sweep of Big Ten rival Illinois.
The Buckeyes advance to the quarterfinals to take on No. 7 Texas on Saturday. The teams played on Feb. 5 in Columbus and the Buckeyes rolled 4-0.
This was the second win this season over Illinois and the 12th win in the last 13 meetings. The teams are also scheduled to play again on March 26 in Champaign.
Doubles
- The Buckeyes got identical 6-2 victories on courts 1 and 3 to take the doubles points. Andrew Lutschaunig and James Trotter were on court 1 and Tracy and Kingsley were on court 3. Both went up a break at 3-1, held for 4-1 and then served out the match to win 6-2.
- The reverse was happening on court 2. After trading breaks to open the match, Illinois went up 5-2 and the match was halted with Cash and Boulais serving.
Singles
- The Buckeyes used the momentum from doubles to win all six first sets in singles.
- As he has most of the early part of the season, JJ Tracy got the Buckeyes started as he beat Gabe Guzauskas 6-3, 6-1 on court three. That was his 15th win of the season.
- On court six, Robert Cash made it 3-0 Buckeyes as he beat Nic Meister 6-1, 7-5.
- James Trotter provided the clinching points on court five as he took down Oliver Okonkwo 6-2, 7-6(3) to give the Buckeyes the win.
- The other three matches all split the first two sets.
Up Next
Ohio State advances to the quarterfinals to take on No. 7 Texas on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET.
#1 Ohio State 4, Illinois 0
Singles
1. Justin Boulais (OSU) vs. Karlis Ozolins (ILL) 6-4, 6-7(2), unfinished
2. Cannon Kingsley (OSU) vs. #123 Hunter Heck (ILL) 6-4, 5-7, unfinished
3. #9 JJ Tracy (OSU) def. Gabrielius Guzauskas (ILL) 6-3, 6-1
4. #41 Alexander Bernard (OSU) vs. William Mroz (ILL) 6-1, 2-6, 2-4, unfinished
5. #28 James Trotter (OSU) def. Oliver Okonkwo (ILL) 6-2, 7-6 (7-3)
6. #75 Robert Cash (OSU) def. Nic Meister (ILL) 6-1, 7-5
Doubles
1. #25 Andrew Lutschaunig/James Trotter (OSU) def. Mathis Debru/Oliver Okonkwo (ILL) 6-2
2. Justin Boulais/Robert Cash (OSU) vs. Hunter Heck/Karlis Ozolins (ILL) 2-5, unfinished
3. Cannon Kingsley/JJ Tracy (OSU) def. Kenta Miyoshi/Gabrielius Guzauskas (ILL) 6-2
Match Notes:
Illinois 9-5
Ohio State 13-0; National ranking #1
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (3,6,5)
#GoBucks
