Athlete (2000-2003) Jakub Ilowski

[Louisiana]

5’8” 165lb SENIOR
BIELSKO-BIALA, POLAND

Personal: born Aug.15, 1980, in Bielsko-Blaza, Poland
Major at Louisiana: Business

UL CAREER HIGHLIGHT: Defeated the #1 player in the country on 01-20-03

[Louisiana]

Before Jakub Ilowski joined Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajun Tennis squad for the 1999-2000 season he was ranked in the top 50 in the International Tennis Federation, Junior Tennis rankings. He played in three Grand Slam tournaments as a juniors competitor, and claimed the European doubles championship in the under-17/18 divisions.

[Louisiana]

In the Spring of 2000 Jakub made an immediate impact on the Louisiana tennis squad, as he went on to named Louisiana Freshman of the Year. As a freshman he played second or third in the lineup, while posting a 15-10 record in singles match play. Jakub began the season by winning 4 of his first 5 matches, and hit a four match winning streak as he won 6 of 7 midway through the season.

Ultimatly his 15 wins ended up being the second most by a Cajun in the Spring of 2000, which propelled him to being named to the Sun Belt All-Conference Team.

In doubles play Jakub teamed with Osvaldo Biffe for the winningest Cajuns doubles team of 2000 at 17-7. Not coinsidently this was a team high winning percentage for dooubles at .708 as they finished in impressive fashion winning 10 of their last 12 matches

[Louisiana]

For the 2000-01 campaign Jakub Ilowski was named to the All-Louisiana team for the second consecutive season. He increased his total wins by two as he claimed 17 wins against 19 losses. In doubles play he was 20-12. The high point of the season was when he reeled off a season best 6-match singles winning streak, including consecutive wins over the nationally-ranked doubles team of Oliver Foreman and Robert Gustafsson.

[Louisiana]

JAKUB ILOWSKI (20-13)
9/27 ! l. to Royce Ramey, Texas Tech, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
9/27 ! def. Drew Hoskins, Texas, 7-5, 6-1
9/28 ! l. to Ricardo Almeida, Texas-San Antonio, 6-3, 6-2
10/5 % def. Mark Edney, Louisiana-Monroe, 6-1, 7-6
10/5 % l. to Uwe Gneiting, Southern Methodist, 6-4, 6-1
10/19 ^ def. Mikka Kangas, USM, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
10/20 ^ l. to Victor Loven, UNO, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
10/27 $ def. Brett Veale, UTSA, 6-0, 6-3
10/28 $ l. to Toni Gordon, TCU, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2
11/4 * def. Jason Hazley, LSU, 6-7, 6-3, 10-8
11/4 * l. to Dan Kiernan, LSU, 7-5, 7-6
11/5 * def. Jorge Escallon, USF, 6-3, 4-6, 10-4
11/6 * def. Bryan Fisher, LSU, 3-6, 6-4, 10-6
1/25 #1 def. Brian Bogus, SLU, 6-3, 6-1
1/25 #1 def. Todd Killen, Centenary, 6-2, 6-0
2/1 #1 def. Edgar Gonzales, Lamar, 6-0, 6-1
2/9 #2 def. David Kowalski, New Mexico, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
2/16 #2 l. to #25 Markus Hornung, Baylor, 4-6, 6-1, 6-0
2/17 #2 def. Tom Zarzeczny, Texas-Arlington, 6-4, 7-6
2/21 #1 l. to #15 Romain Ambert, Miss. State, 6-2, 6-2
3/2 #1 def. Heinrich Heyl, S. Alabama, 6-7, 6-2, 6-4
3/5 #1 def. Chris Mitchell, Michigan St., 6-2, 7-5
3/8 @#1 l. to Maciej Dilaj, Colorado, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6
3/9 @#1 def. Sebastien Locatelli, New Orleans, 6-4, 6-2
3/9 @#1 l. to Marcos Pavlovich, E. Tenn. St., 6-2, 6-4
3/23 #1 def. #78 Saber Kadiri, Virginia Tech, 7-6, 6-2
3/24 #1 def. Matt Mathaes, Rice, 6-4, 6-0
4/5 #1 l. to #23 Michael Kogan, Tulane, 7-5, 6-1
4/7 #1 l. to #14 Daniel Klemetz, Mid. Tenn., 7-5, 6-3
4/8 #1 def. Andre van der Merwe, UAB, 6-2, 6-4
4/13 #2 l. to #67 Victor Romero, Tulane, 6-3, 6-2
4/14 #1 def. Mikka Kangas, Southern Miss., 7-6, 4-6, 7-6(11-9)
4/19 #1 def. Mike Hellwig, NMSU, 6-4, 6-1

[Louisiana]

In a landmark win for University of Louisiana tennnis, Jakub Ilowski defeated Benedikt Dorsch.

Benedikt Dorsch plays for Baylor and was the #1 ranked player in NCAA D1.

Jakub won 3-6, 6-3, 7-5

[RaginRash]

Nice match Jakub!

[NewsCopy]

JAKUB ILOWSKI DEFEATS NATION’S TOP PLAYER

WACO, Texas – Louisiana’s Jakub Ilowski defeated #3 Baylor’s Benedikt Dorsch, the No. 1 player in the country, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5. Monday afternoon at the Baylor Tennis Center.

“I am very proud of Jakub,” said UL Lafayette head coach Justin McGrath.

With the victory, Ilowski automatically qualified for the NCAA Regionals.

[ChanceEncounter]

This win by Jakub could be a turning point in making the team listen to what coach says about not being intimidated. I would bet my left knute that there are players on the team thinking to themselves "Jukub is no better than me" and they might be right. The difference is Jakub (Yakub) listened to the coach and was not intimidated, resulting in a win over the number one player in the country. Wins like this in the pros vault players who are ranked around 200 all the way up to around 45. Now I don't know where Jakub is ranked in NCAA circles, but there will be opponents of his that will be intimidated. There is a downside, he will not be taken lightly. There is an upside, neither will his coach be taken lightly.