wiNo. 1 Illinois improved to 26-0 with a 4-1 win over Minnesota to win the Big Ten Men's Tennis Championship in Evanston, Ill. The Golden Gophers (20-5) took the doubles point, but Illinois responded with four singles victories.

For the first time since Feb. 23, Illinois lost the doubles point, as Thomas Haug and Avery Ticer upset No. 9 Amer Delic and Michael Calkins, 8-2, at No. 1. Clay Estes and Manuel Lievano then upset No. 11 Rajeev Ram and Brian Wilson at No. 2 doubles, 9-7.

Illinois rebounded with four singles victories as Chris Martin defeated Clay Estes at No. 6 by the score of 6-4, 6-3. Chris Wettengel was defeated at No. 3 singles by Brian Wilson, 6-2, 6-2.

At No. 1 singles, Delic, the nation's fourth-ranked singles player, sneaked past Zharinov, 7-6 (5), 7-5. No. 25 Ram defeated Haug at No. 2 singles to clinch the match, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2.

The Golden Gophers will next compete at the NCAA Championship. Minnesota will be making its eighth straight appearance in the tournament. Pairings will be announced on Wednesday.

#1 Illinois 4, Minnesota 1

Singles
No. 1 - Amer Delic (ILL) def. Aleksey Zharinov (MINN), 7-6 (5), 7-5
No. 2 - Rajeev Ram (ILL) def. Thomas Haug (MN), 5-7, 6-1, 6-2
No. 3 - Brian Wilson (ILL) def. Chris Wettengel (MINN), 6-2, 6-2
No. 4 - Phil Stolt (ILL) vs. Manuel Lievano (MN), abandoned
No. 5 - Michael Calkins (ILL) vs. Avery Ticer (MN), abandoned
No. 6 - Chris Martin (ILL) def. Clay Estes (MINN), 6-4, 6-3

Doubles
No. 1 - Haug/Ticer (MINN) def. Delic/Calkins (ILL), 8-2
No. 2 - Lievano/Estes (MINN) def. Ram/Wilson (ILL), 9-7
No. 3 - Stolt/Martin (ILL) def. Zharinov/Eric Robertson (MINN), 8-3