Men's Tennis Hosts No. 16 Illinois Friday Night

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CHARLOTTESVILLE – The top-ranked Virginia men’s tennis team will continue its season-opening homestand Friday night as it hosts No. 16 Illinois. Match time at the Boyd Tinsley Courts at the Boar’s Head Sports Club is 6 p.m. and admission is free.

The match will feature the jersey retirement ceremony of Brian Vahaly. The class of 2001 alumnus was Virginia’s first ITA All-American and reached the 2001 NCAA singles final. He reached a career-high world ranking of No. 57 and in 2003 was the only player in the ATP top 100 with a college degree. He joins Somdev Devvarman as the only Cavalier players to have their jersey retired.

Virginia (1-0) opened the season Tuesday with a 12-1 win over No. 75 William & Mary in a match that used an alternative scoring system. The Cavaliers won all eight singles matches in straight sets and the top four doubles matches. With the victory, Virginia extended its school-record home winning streak to 75 matches.

The Cavaliers open the season ranked No. 1 for the third time in the past six years. Virginia leads all schools with seven players ranked among the nation’s top 125 players, including five of the top 30. Freshman Alex Domijan (Wesley Chapel, Fla.) is No. 3, senior Sanam Singh (Chandigarh, India) is No. 10, junior Drew Courtney (Clifton, Va.) is No. 17, sophomore Jarmere Jenkins (College Park, Ga.) is No. 19 and senior Michael Shabaz (Fairfax, Va.) is No. 27. Sophomore Julen Uriguen (Guatemala City, Guatemala) is ranked a career-high No. 77 and freshman Justin Shane (Falls Church, Va.) is ranked No. 105.

In doubles, the Cavaliers have two of the top 10 ranked teams. Reigning NCAA champions Courtney and Shabaz are No. 3, while the team of Domijan and Jenkins is No. 10.

Friday’s match will be the season opener for the Fighting Illini. They are led by three players ranked nationally in singles; No. 11 Dennis Nevolo, No. 111 Johnny Hamui and No. 121 Abe Souza.

Virginia has won the last four meetings between the teams and lead the overall series 6-2. Last season, the Cavaliers posted a 6-1 victory at Illinois.

The Cavaliers continue their homestand Sunday when they host a doubleheader at the Boyd Tinsley Courts. Virginia hosts No. 36 Notre Dame at noon and Eastern Kentucky at 6 p.m.