2018-2019 Illini Tennis

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#1      
#2      
Women's team hires new assistant coach:

https://fightingillini.com/news/201...ini-add-dalmagro-as-associate-head-coach.aspx

He is from Argentina and appears to specialize in recruiting international players:

http://www.dailynebraskan.com/sport...cle_29a34dbe-176c-11e8-af7c-6778f947904c.html

I wonder if this means that the women's team is going to recruit more internationally? I know they've had a difficult time beating out Northwestern, Michigan, and Ohio State for the top local recruits.

Good points. We haven't been able to land the top Illinois recruits for some time. I think the only recruit that they have coming in for next year is from India. Do you know what has happened to Kopinski?
 
#3      

ilphotog

The camera never lies
Champaign
Good points. We haven't been able to land the top Illinois recruits for some time. I think the only recruit that they have coming in for next year is from India. Do you know what has happened to Kopinski?
Just a personal reason for Mel, not Tennis or UI related. Nothing bad at all.
 
#6      
Incoming freshman, Keenan Mayo, has his national ranking all the way up to #13 as of today. Looks like he'll finish up as a blue-chip recruit.

Along with talented South African, Sipho Montsi, and local player, Lucas Horve (#72 nationally), it appears that Dancer has his third really solid incoming class in a row.
 
#7      

Joel Goodson

respect my decision™
Incoming freshman, Keenan Mayo, has his national ranking all the way up to #13 as of today. Looks like he'll finish up as a blue-chip recruit.

Along with talented South African, Sipho Montsi, and local player, Lucas Horve (#72 nationally), it appears that Dancer has his third really solid incoming class in a row.

From a light tennis follower's view, it seems that Dancer has achieved increasing traction.
 
#8      
Incoming freshman, Keenan Mayo, has his national ranking all the way up to #13 as of today. Looks like he'll finish up as a blue-chip recruit.

Along with talented South African, Sipho Montsi, and local player, Lucas Horve (#72 nationally), it appears that Dancer has his third really solid incoming class in a row.

I have found very little info. on Montsi. What can you tell us about him? We've had pretty good luck with South Africans.
 
#9      
I have found very little info. on Montsi. What can you tell us about him? We've had pretty good luck with South Africans.

Pretty much what you probably already found through your search. He had a high ITF Junior world ranking of 92 and a UTR rating of 14. (Mayo's current ITF ranking is 86, but his UTR is under 14). I believe Montsi was the second or third-ranked player in his age class in South Africa. He was recently a hitting partner for the South Africa Davis Cup team.

He played in the Australian Open Junior tournament, where Andy Murry's mom called him "the most naturally gifted young player."

https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/sport...se-on-sa-tennis-prodigy-siphosothando-montsi/

He also has a younger brother, Kholo, who might end up being better than Sipho. I watched an interview where his brother said he is planning to go pro and is not thinking about college at this time.
 
#10      
I just saw this and I think it's worth commenting on ... #20 ranked blue chip recruit (2019) from California (#3 in California) recently committed to the women's team. Their recruiting has really picked up and they are definitely going to be a force in the B1G and nationally for the next few years, at least.

I don't know how her last name is pronounced, but I'm guessing Illinois fans will come up with some great cheers for her.

Ashley Yeah Tennis Recruiting Profile
 
#11      
I just saw this and I think it's worth commenting on ... #20 ranked blue chip recruit (2019) from California (#3 in California) recently committed to the women's team. Their recruiting has really picked up and they are definitely going to be a force in the B1G and nationally for the next few years, at least.

I don't know how her last name is pronounced, but I'm guessing Illinois fans will come up with some great cheers for her.

Ashley Yeah Tennis Recruiting Profile
Thanks for that, WR. Exciting times.
 
#12      

ilphotog

The camera never lies
Champaign
For those who attend indoor matches, Atkins is getting a few changes. Nothing to drastic etc, they are painting the formerly white doors and frames that lead into the indoor court area a Navy blue, installed a new counter in the Pro Shop, but the cool change will be the new Video board that will be installed in the next week or two. Not sure if it was mentioned before, earlier this Summer they installed new lights and reflective tarps above the lights, just under the ceiling. They are also moving the B1G banners from the middle of the arena, to the area under the All-American banners on the East wall.
 
#13      
For those who attend indoor matches, Atkins is getting a few changes. Nothing to drastic etc, they are painting the formerly white doors and frames that lead into the indoor court area a Navy blue, installed a new counter in the Pro Shop, but the cool change will be the new Video board that will be installed in the next week or two. Not sure if it was mentioned before, earlier this Summer they installed new lights and reflective tarps above the lights, just under the ceiling. They are also moving the B1G banners from the middle of the arena, to the area under the All-American banners on the East wall.

Will the video board be visible from all courts? I hope that they do something with the P.A. system. You can hear fine from some seats but not from others.
 
#14      

ilphotog

The camera never lies
Champaign
Will the video board be visible from all courts? I hope that they do something with the P.A. system. You can hear fine from some seats but not from others.
I don't know yet, my guess it will be hard to see from either end. I've championed for scoreboards on the ends for years, they say "write a check" haha.
 
#15      

ilphotog

The camera never lies
Champaign
New video board for Tennis.
 

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#16      
New video board for Tennis.
New video board for Tennis.
So, it is in the same spot as the old scoreboard. Do you know if it will show the scores from all six courts when the video isn't running? The only way to know where we stand during a match is to look at the central scoreboard because you can not read the scoreboards on all six individual courts from most spots in the building. I like that they have the arch and the capital 'I' above the video board so that they carry the same theme over from the baseball and softball diamonds.
 
#17      
Evan Clark is killing it in recruiting! Illinois now has commitments from #17 and #21 in the 2019 class, both blue chip prospects. Ashley Yeah is the #2 player in California and Josie Frazier is the #1 player in Arizona. They are also the #2 and #4 ranked players in the Southwest region of the US.

It's impressive to pull top-ranked West Coast tennis players to Illinois. Now, if we could only convince the best players in Illinois to stay home. :confused:

https://www.tennisrecruiting.net/team.asp?id=885
 
#18      
Pretty impressive. Recruiting has been strong since Clark came on as an assistant. I'm not sure how he is getting these west coast kids, he has no apparent connection there. He is a Midwest guy and his limited previous coaching experience has been on the east coast. Frankly, his personality seems rather bland yet he is connecting well with these kids. One thing about women's tennis is that a lot of the kids are high academic kids who see tennis as the key to getting an education and I think Clark is selling that. Hopefully the new assistant will have some luck with international girls. We should have one more open scholarship for next year unless Vias comes back as a fifth year player after not playing last year. I doubt that she chooses that option.
 
#20      
Wow, the women got absolutely obliterated by Georgia today. Lost all eight matches and most of them were not close.

#8 Jokic (UGA) def. #48 Switkes 6-2, 6-0
#76 Gonzalez (UGA) def. #93 Kawai 6-1, 6-1
#4 Carle (UGA) def. Pedraza Novak 6-2, 6-0
Wolff (UGA) def. Mia Rabinowitz 6-0, 6-3
Christofi (UGA) def. Emilee Duong 7-5, 5-7, 6-3
Clayton (UGA) def. Sasha Belaya 7-6 (1), 4-6, 7-5
#77 Coppoc (UGA) def. Shivaji Ingle 6-4, 6-3
Goulak (UGA) def. Gandawidjaja 6-1, 6-4
 
#21      
And as soon as I spoke about not getting the top Illinois players, the men's team gets a commitment from the top-ranked player in Illinois in the 2019 class, Alex Bancila of Lake Forest. He's only ranked #70 in the country, but he has been gradually trending upwards.

https://www.tennisrecruiting.net/player.asp?id=777491
The men have no seniors on the roster so likely have no scholarship aid available. I suspect Bancila will walk on.
 
#22      
Wow, the women got absolutely obliterated by Georgia today. Lost all eight matches and most of them were not close.

#8 Jokic (UGA) def. #48 Switkes 6-2, 6-0
#76 Gonzalez (UGA) def. #93 Kawai 6-1, 6-1
#4 Carle (UGA) def. Pedraza Novak 6-2, 6-0
Wolff (UGA) def. Mia Rabinowitz 6-0, 6-3
Christofi (UGA) def. Emilee Duong 7-5, 5-7, 6-3
Clayton (UGA) def. Sasha Belaya 7-6 (1), 4-6, 7-5
#77 Coppoc (UGA) def. Shivaji Ingle 6-4, 6-3
Goulak (UGA) def. Gandawidjaja 6-1, 6-4

Georgia is currently ranked #8 vs. #15 for Illinois. The match was played in Georgia but still we should have been more competitive. This continues a trend of poor play by the gals this fall.
 
#23      
Georgia is currently ranked #8 vs. #15 for Illinois. The match was played in Georgia but still we should have been more competitive. This continues a trend of poor play by the gals this fall.

I hope they didn't get complacent after last their success last year.
 
#24      
The men's team was able to pull off a very nice road win at Notre Dame! Anyone know what has been happening with Alex Brown? He had a very nice fall season, but he seems to be struggling at #1 singles recently. Not sure if his game is off or if he is dealing with injuries?

Also, is anyone else coming out to watch the UCLA match and/or the ITA indoors at midtown next week?
 
#25      
The men's team was able to pull off a very nice road win at Notre Dame! Anyone know what has been happening with Alex Brown? He had a very nice fall season, but he seems to be struggling at #1 singles recently. Not sure if his game is off or if he is dealing with injuries?

Also, is anyone else coming out to watch the UCLA match and/or the ITA indoors at midtown next week?
Dancer said that he has been sick for 'weeks' and then he turned his knee in the match vs. Duke. Watched him play today vs. He has dropped to #2 in the lineup (Kovacevic moved up). He looked ok physically but didn't play well. Dropped the doubles and was on the way to losing (#2) singles when the match ended 4-1 for the Illini.
 
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