Chambana Sun

The University of Illinois men's tennis team is set to host UCLA and USC in a weekend homestand at the Atkins Tennis Center in Urbana. The matches will see Illinois, ranked No. 23, face off against No. 41 UCLA on Friday and No. 26 USC on Sunday.

Illinois has maintained a perfect home record this season with five wins and no losses. They hold an overall record of 9-5 and are 3-1 in Big Ten play. This weekend's matches mark the first time Illinois will meet both UCLA and USC as conference opponents.

In their previous match, Illinois secured a 4-1 victory over Indiana, winning the doubles point for the fourth consecutive match. Tyler Bowers and Kenta Miyoshi were instrumental in securing this win with their performance in doubles.

UCLA comes into the weekend with a 4-6 overall record but has shown strength in Big Ten play with two wins against Indiana and Purdue. Their roster includes four players ranked in ITA singles rankings, notably Spencer Johnson at No. 17.

USC holds an 8-4 overall record and is also undefeated in conference play. They have notable victories against teams like Pepperdine and rival UCLA.

Illinois' head coach Brad Dancer has recently signed a contract extension through the 2030-31 season. "Brad Dancer is a trusted, veteran leader...and we are thrilled to extend our partnership," said Josh Whitman, Illinois Director of Athletics.

Dancer has led Illinois to significant achievements including NCAA Tournament berths and Big Ten titles during his tenure.

Kenta Miyoshi from Illinois earned ITA All-America status after advancing to the third round of the NCAA Singles Championship earlier this year.

The upcoming matches present an opportunity for Illinois to continue its strong home performance while facing new challenges from conference newcomers UCLA and USC.