February 20, 1999
SEATTLE - The number one ranked Stanford men's tennis team recorded itsfirst loss in 46 dual matches today as the Cardinal fell to fifth-rankedIllinois, 4-3, today at the ITA National Team Indoor Championship. TheCardinal entered today with a record 45 straight dual match wins, datingback to the 1997 season. Stanford is now 6-1 in 1999.
In today's match, the Cardinal won the doubles point behind victories atnumber one and two doubles. Moving into singles play, with a 1-0 lead,Stanford's Ryan Wolters and K.J. Hippensteel defeated their Illiniopponents at number one and three singles. Wolters took three sets todefeat Oliver Freelove, 6-1, 3-6, 6-2, but Hippensteel led 7-5, 6-5 whenhis opponent, Gavin Sontag was forced to retire. The Illini tied the matchscore at 3-3 as they won at number two, five and six singles. It all camedown to the match between Alex Kim of Stanford and Jeff Laski of Illinoisat number four singles. Prior to this tournament, Kim missed two weeks ofaction with a leg injury, but pulled together a thriller today. AfterLaski won the first set 7-6, Kim captured the second 7-6. However in thefinal set, Laski was too much as he won the match 7-6, 6-7, 6-3.
Today's match was a preview of next weekend's action on the Farm asStanford hosts Illinois on Friday, February 26 at 1:30 pm at the TaubeFamily Tennis Stadium.
Complete results follow:
ITA National Team Indoor Championship
Illinois 4, Stanford 3
Singles
1.Ryan Wolters (Stanford) d. Oliver Freelove (Illinois)6-1, 3-6, 6-2
2.Cary Franklin (Illinois) d. Geoff Abrams (Stanford)6-4, 6-2
3.K.J. Hippensteel (Stanford) d. Gavin Sontag (Illinois)7-5, 6-5 ret.
4.Jeff Laski (Illinois) d. Alex Kim (Stanford)7-6, 6-7, 6-3
5.Jakub Teply (Illinois) d. Scotty Scott (Stanford)7-5, 5-7, 6-1
6.Mike Kosta (Illinois) d. Ali Ansari (Stanford)7-6, 6-3
Doubles
1.Hippensteel-Wolters (Stanford) d. Franklin-Freelove (Illinois)8-5
2.Abrams-Kim (Stanford) d. Laski-Sontag (Illinois)8-4
3.Kosta-Teply (Illinois) d. Ansari-Scott (Stanford)8-3