TOLEDO, Ohio – The Toledo men's tennis team will be playing three road matches this weeknd, starting at Illinois on Saturday afternoon, followed by a doubleheader at Butler and IUPUI on Sunday in Indianapolis, Ind.

"Now we're going to realize our season is under way: long trip, winter driving, and three unique and challenging environments," head coach Al Wermer said. "Illinois is a perennial national powerhouse, Butler is a very strong program, and IUPUI is certainly dangerous."

Last time on the Court
Toledo suffered a 5-2 season-opening loss at Indiana on Jan. 13. Pawit Sornlaksup (102-25 career) extended his two-year singles dual-match winning streak to 44 matches after defeating the Hoosiers' Fucando Yunis in an intense 7-5, 7-6(4) final from the top court. Freshman Cole Cozens won his first dual match of his UT career in a three-set comeback victory from the No. 4 court.

Rockets in the Rankings
Sornlaksup, who enters this week as the No.68 singles player in the country, has 62 career wins at Toledo which is ranked sixth all-time. He trails Chris Clark (2005-08) who won 63 matches. Nutthavit Likitkumchorn (2008-10) holds the program for 99 career singles wins.

Sornlaksup currently sits No.13 all-time in combined wins (singles & doubles) with a 101-24 record, and is one win away from matching Nicky Wong (2012-25) with 103 victories. Likitkumchorn (2008-10) holds the program for a career 200-112 combined record.

About Illinois
Illinois ended last season with a 19-11 (6-3 Big Ten) record and fell to No.1 seed Ohio State in the semifinals of the 2023 Big Ten Tournament. The Fighting Illini have three nationally ranked singles players on their roster, Kenta Miyoshi (No.17), Hunter Heck (No. 46), and Karlis Ozolins (No.55).  Miyoshi compiled a 15-16 (2-1 Big Ten) record as a freshman last spring. Heck went 22-24 (3-1 Big Ten) last season, and achieved a No. 23 doubles team ranking with Ozolins after making an Elite Eight run in the NCAA Doubles Championships.

The Rockets have not gone head-to-head vs the Fighting Illini since falling 4-0 on Feb. 22, 2015.

About Butler
Butler ended the 2022-23 season with a 15-10 (4-1 Big East), with current UT assistant Coach Thomas Brennan and Alvaro Huete Vadillo earning All-Big East honors. The Bulldogs were swept by No.2 seed St. Johns in the final of the 2023 Big East Tournament.

Butler will play Ball State on Friday afternoon before facing Toledo for the first time since Feb. 27, 2016.

About IUPUI
IUPUI is coming off back-to-back sweeps from Notre Dame last week, not winning a single set against the Fighting Irish. The Jaguars return seven players from the quad that went 6-10 (2-6 Horizon League) during the 2022-23 season.

The Rockets have won the last three matchups vs. the Jaguars, the last being a 4-3 home win on Feb. 4, 2023.

Toledo vs. Illinois
Champaign, IL | Atkins Tennis Center
Saturday, Jan. 20 | Noon (EST)
Live Stats

Toledo vs. Butler
Indianapolis, IN | Butler Bubble
Sunday, Jan. 21 | 10:30 a.m.

Toledo vs. IUPUI
Indianapolis, IN | West Indy Racquet Club
Sunday, Jan. 21 | 6:30 p.m.

What's Next
Toledo will play the final three games of its seven-match road trip that opened this 2024 season. UT will head down to Columbus to play No. 2 Ohio State on Wednesday, Jan. 24 before heading to University Park, PA to play Penn State (Friday, Jan. 26) and Temple (Saturday, Jan. 27).

Follow the Rockets
Be sure to follow the Rockets' men's tennis team on social media:

• X (Formerly Twitter): @ToledoMTennis
• Instagram & Threads: toledomtennis
• Facebook: Toledo Men's Tennis