University of Tennessee Athletics
Tennis Vols Down Illinois
February 25, 2001 | Men's Tennis
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Adam Carey "I just tried to keep focused and stay in the match as long as I could. I knew that I needed to be on the court to help the team out. I guess after I broke him for the second time in the second set I knew I probably had a shot at it." |
The Vols started the match off well winning two of the three doubles matches to take the doubles point. The Tennessee duo of Peter Handoyo and Simon Rea won the first match for the Vols by defeating Jamal Parker and Michael Calkins 8-5 in the No. 2 match. The Vols Mario Toledo and Andy Crews then clinched the doubles point by taking out Phil Stolt and Mike Kosta in the No. 3 match 8-5. The only doubles win for the Illini came from No. 11 Amer Delic and Graydon Oliver over the ninth-ranked pair of Mark Parsons and Adam Carey 8-5 in the No. 1 match.
The singles segment saw the Vols carry the momentum from the doubles victory as they took three of the first four singles matches to clinch the match. No. 28 Peter Handoyo was the the first winner for the Vols as he downed Michael Calkins in the No. 4 match 6-3, 6-4. Then the Vols Mario Toledo took out No. 39 Phil Stolt in the No. 2 match 6-4, 7-6(6). The victory marked Toledos fourth in a row against a ranked opponent. The match of the day was the No. 3 match featuring No. 73 Adam Carey and Illinois Amer Delic. Delic won the first set 6-3 and was up 5-1 in the second set before Carey charged back and won the second second set 7-6(5) in a tiebreaker. Carey then finished off Delic winning the third set 6-2 in what concluded a thrilling comeback. The win also marked Careys 81st as a Vol, which placed him at No. 10 on the Vols all-time wins list.
"I just tried to keep focused and stay in the match as long as I could," Carey said. "I knew that I needed to be on the court to help the team out. I guess after I broke him for the second time in the second set I knew I probably had a shot at it."
The Fighting Illini (5-4) got a big win in the No. 1 match when No. 75 Graydon Oliver defeated No. 59 Mark Parson 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 with the match still in doubt. It proved to be too little too late as Carey finished off Delic soon after the conclusion of the No. 1 match. Illinois Mike Kosta and Nathan Zeder then won the Nos. 5 and 6 matches over Wade Orr and Simon Rea respectively.
"This was a tough win under difficult circumstances," Tennessee head coach Michael Fancutt said. "The weather forced us inside and Illinois is one of the best indoor teams in the country. I am very proud of all the guys, but I would have to say that I am especially pleased with Adam Carey. Once again he hung in there tough and pulled out a huge win for our team. I told him you have to make the guy play an entire match, not just a set and a half. Apparently he was listening. I also want to say how proud I am of Peter Handoyo. This was only his second match back and he performed like a true leader in both singles and doubles. The doctors werent even sure if he would be able to play this weekend, but he came out and played with a lot of heart and took care of business."
Next up for the Vols will be a trip to Durham, N.C. to take on the third-ranked Duke Blue Devils Wednesday at 2:30 p.m.
#7 Tennessee 4, #13 Illinois 3
| Doubles | |
| No. 1 | (11) Oliver/ Delic (ILL) def. (9) Carey/ Parsons (UT) 8-5 |
| No. 2 | Handoyo/ Rea (UT) def. Parker/ Calkins (ILL) 8-5 |
| No. 3 | Toledo/ Crews (UT) def. Stolt/ Kosta (ILL) 8-5 |
| Singles | |
| No. 1 | (75) Graydon Oliver (ILL) def. (59) Mark Parsons (UT) 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 |
| No. 2 | Mario Toledo (UT) def. (39) Phil Stolt (ILL) 6-4, 7-6(6) |
| No. 3 | (73) Adam Carey (UT) def. Amer Delic (ILL) 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-2 |
| No. 4 | (28) Peter Handoyo (UT) def. Michael Calkins (ILL) 6-3, 6-4 |
| No. 5 | Mike Kosta (ILL) def. Simon Rea (UT) 6-3, 6-2 |
| No. 6 | Nathan Zeder (ILL) def. Wade Orr (UT) 6-4, 6-4 |
