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CHARLOTTESVILLE — The Virginia men’s tennis team opens the home portion of its 2009 schedule Friday night when it hosts Illinois Friday night at the Boyd Tinsley Courts at the Boar’s Head Sports Club. The match between the No. 5 Cavaliers and No. 15 Fighting Illini is set for 6 p.m. and admission is free.
The Cavaliers are 1-0 after opening the season with a 7-0 victory at No. 64 William & Mary on Tuesday. The Virginia singles lineup features six players who are ranked nationally: No. 11 Michael Shabaz (Fairfax, Va.), No. 24 Sanam Singh (Chandigarh, India), No. 43 Dominic Inglot (London, England), No. 68 Houston Barrick (Brentwood, Tenn.), No. 108 Drew Courtney (Clifton, Va.) and No. 109 Lee Singer (Laguna Niguel, Calif.).
The Illini are 3-0 this season after home wins over Toledo, Ball State and No. 14 Pepperdine. Illinois has four ranked singles players: No. 23 Roy Kalmanovich, No. 41 Dennis Nevolo, No. 101 Marc Spicijaric and No. 113 Meedo El Tabakh.
Last season the Cavaliers won a 4-3 thriller at Illinois. Virginia rallied from a 3-1 deficit and Ted Angelinos fought off a match point against to win the clinching match before a crowd of over 1,200.
During the intermission between doubles and singles of Friday’s match, there will be a ceremony to retire the jersey of former Cavalier Somdev Devvarman, the 2007 and 2008 NCAA Singles Champion. During the ceremony on Friday night, Devvarman will receive a commemorative jersey and a banner will be displayed at the Boyd Tinsley Courts at the Boar’s Head Sports Club in honor of his career.
Fans are encouraged to arrive early for Friday night’s match. Admission to men’s tennis matches is free at the Boar’s Head Sports Club. Parking is available in the grass field across from the main entrance to the Boar’s Head Inn. A free shuttle service will be provided from this parking area to the Boar’s Head Sports Club.
Parking for the men’s tennis match on Friday is also available in the Birdwood Golf Course parking lot. Fans should turn off Route 250 at the entrance to Birdwood Golf Course and follow the road to the parking area. Fans parking at Birdwood Golf Course are encouraged to walk to the Boar’s Head Sports Club along the path between the third green and fourth tee. Lights will be set up along the path.