Allan Luo gets ready for a return shot against Decatur MacArthur in the second round of IHSA sectionals. Gargoyle photo by David Porreca (click to enlarge)

URBANA — When Allan Luo and Richard Wang graduated Saturday, they had plenty of academic accomplishments to their credit. But one of their last achievements as Uni students came on the tennis court.

Luo and Wang made it to the third round of the IHSA Urbana boys tennis sectional at the Atkins Tennis Center when they defeated the Decatur MacArthur doubles team of Nicholson/Watts 6-3, 6-4 on May 22.

The victory was Uni's first doubles win in recent memory, and it came in just the second year that Uni has had a tennis club. Faculty sponsor David Bergandine formed the club in 2007.

A year ago at sectionals, Wang and then-senior Ammar Rizwan each lost in the first round in singles play, with Rizwan falling to Vibhav Reddy of Danville (1-6, 1-6) and Wang losing to Kyle Benson of Decatur Eisenhower (0-6, 1-6).

This year, Wang joined with Luo to compete as a doubles team. They received an automatic bye in the first round, so they were fresh for their opponents.

The Illinek duo held serve on all of their points in the first set, having no trouble finishing off their early 4-1 lead for the 6-3 set victory.

The second set was closer, though. After the Uni pair took three games in a row to go up 3-1, Nicholson and Watts won the next two, breaking Luo's serve. But the Illineks were able to break MacArthur's serve, and they held their next two serves for the straight set victory.

On the match, the Uni seniors held nine of their 10 serves, with the Illineks winning all five of Wang's serves. The MacArthur pair held six of their nine serves.

The next day, Wang and Luo weren't so lucky. In the third round, they faced Danville's formidable team of Colby Clapper and Vibhav Reddy, who entered the match after a first-round bye and a 6-0, 6-0 second-round victory.

Wang and Luo managed to avoid a shutout by winning a game in the second set, but they still fell in straight sets (0-6, 1-6). Clapper and Reddy went on to qualify for state by finishing as sectional runners-up behind Patrick Kuhle and Sandeep Kola of Decatur St. Teresa.

Still, it was a step forward for the Uni tennis program.

The status of Uni's tennis club is uncertain for next year, hinging on student support. But with eight returning members, several more newcomers likely to join, and summer practice opportunities for any interested Uni students, the club is gradually transforming into a team.

With enough support, Uni's showing at sectionals could be even more impressive next year.

More Photos: Luo/Wang compete in IHSA Sectionals

Senior Allan Luo in action against Decatur MacArthur's team of Nicholson/Watts on May 22 in the IHSA Urbana boys tennis sectional. Gargoyle photos by David Porreca (click any photo to enlarge or to create your own slideshow)

For the competition, Luo teamed up with classmate Richard Wang.

Wang serves as Luo waits.

Wang and Luo received a first-round bye.

They dispatched Nicholson/Watts 6-4, 6-3 to win the second round.

Their postseason ended May 23 when they lost 0-6, 1-6 in the third round to sectional runners-up (and state qualifiers) Clapper/Reddy of Danville.