March 3, 2001
Evanston, Ill. - The 30th-ranked Northwestern men's tennis team suffered its first Big Ten loss of the season at the hands of four-time reigning conference champions Illinois, 5-2, Saturday afternoon at the Johnson Tennis Center.
The Wildcats got points from Jackie Jenkins (College Park, Ga./Westlake) at No. 1 singles and Jamie Sahara (Santa Maria, Calif./St. Joseph) in the fourth position. Jenkins defeated Graydon Oliver in straight sets 7-6(1), 7-6(5), to pick up his sixth win in dual competition. Sahara won 6-0, 4-6, 6-1 over Michael Calkins. Brad Erickson (Eugene Ore./South Eugene) dropped a close match to 40th-ranked Philip Stolt, 7-6(1), 7-6(5), at No. 2 singles.
In doubles action, Jenkins and Russell Bennett (Wilmette, Ill./New Trier) won NU's sole match, 8-4. Erickson and Joost Hol (Newport Beach, Calif./Foothill) lost a tough battle to 38th-ranked Delic and Nathan Zedar (8-6), their first loss since January.
Singles
No. 1: Jackie Jenkins (NU) def. Graydon Oliver (IL), 7-6(1), 7-6(5)
No. 2: #40 Philip Stolt (IL) def. Brad Erickson (NU), 7-5, 6-4
No. 3: Amer Delic (IL) def. Joost Hol (NU), 6-1, 6-3
No. 4: Jamie Sahara (NU) def. Michael Calkins (IL), 6-0, 4-6, 6-1
No. 5: Mike Kosta (IL) def. Ryan Edlefsen (NU), 3-6, 6-1, 6-4
No. 6: Josh Axler (NU) def. Nathan Zeder (IL), 6-4, 5-7, 7-6(5)
Doubles
No. 1: #3 Oliver/Delic (IL) def. Erickson/Hol (NU), 8-6
No. 2: Russell Bennett/Jenkins (NU) def. Calkins/Jamal Parker(IL), 8-5
No. 3: #38 Kosta/Zeder (IL) def. Axler/Edlefson (NU), 8-4