URBANA — Illinois men's tennis probably didn't need to win the doubles point Friday against Western Michigan in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
Zeke Clark was poised to win at No. 3 singles before Alex Brown blitzed the Broncos' Kennosuke Nouchi late in the second set for the clinching win at No. 2 singles in the Illini's 4-0 victory at Khan Outdoor Tennis Complex. A likely victory from Clark would have provided that fourth point, too, and also pushed Illinois into Saturday's 3 p.m. second round showdown with California.
And yet how the Illini won the doubles point remained notable given it was the first victory for the still new team of true freshman Keenan Mayo and redshirt freshman Fletcher Scott.