Illini tennis player wins title at Battle of the Bay

SNS – Despite dropping his opening singles match, Illinois junior Kenta Miyoshi bounced back with four consecutive victories over ranked opponents to win the singles consolation bracket at Battle In The Bay in San Francisco a week ago today. The No. 42-ranked player in the ITA singles rankings, Miyoshi recorded straight-set decisions in each of those four wins to finish the weekend with a 4-1 record.

Photo: PhotoNews/Clark Brooks

Illinois tennis player Kenta Miyoshi lines up a backhand shot at the 2023 Illini Open. He is ranked 42 in the ITA heading into his junior season.

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Miyoshi teamed up with Illini senior Karlis Ozolins in doubles play, while Ozolins also took part in singles action during the four-day event. Unfortunately, the Illini duo fell in straight sets in their opening singles matches. Miyoshi suffered a two-set defeat to Arizona's Zoran Ludoski, 6-4, 6-3.

Meanwhile, Ozolins battled but came up short 6-4, 6-2, in his match to UC Santa Barbara's Dominique Rolland.

Competing in the consolation singles bracket, Miyoshi picked up his first singles win of the season with a 6-2, 6-3 decision over No. 103 Maxi Homberg of Pepperdine.

A day later, he earned his second-ranked win of the weekend with a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Spaniard Pedro Vives. Vives ranked No. 37 and a senior at Texas Christian University, completed high school at Rafa Nadal Academy.

One victory away from the consolation finals, Miyoshi took care of business against Arizona's Casper Christensen in straight sets, 6-3, 7-5.

After taking the first set 7-5 against Savriyan Danilov, the Illinois junior dominated the second set to win the title with a 6-2 finish over the San Diego State graduate student from Moscow.

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Scenic Kentucky, perfect for a quick fall getaway trip

Photo: Rafik Wahba/Unsplash

No visit to Kentucky is complete without a stop at the Cumberland Falls. It is the second largest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains. Sometimes called the Little Niagra, the first recorded landowners of the falls were Matthew Walton and Adam Shepard in 1800. Today, the waterfall and land around it is located in the Cumberland Falls State Resort Park and managed by the Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves.

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StatePoint Media - Anyone who loves fall weather should make plans to come to Kentucky. When October and November roll around in the Bluegrass State, native Kentuckians and visitors alike have their eyes on the tree line, waiting for the first hints of autumn colors. And while the anticipation might seem almost too much to bear, the breathtaking sight of fall foliage in Kentucky is so worth the wait.

If the leaves are turning, no matter where a traveler happens to be in the Commonwealth, they are in for a veritable fireworks show of vibrant fall colors. There are so many ways to get an amazing view of the foliage, from nature trails for those who like hiking to country roads for those who enjoy nature from the inside of the car.

The Old Frankfort Pike is a National Scenic Byway that runs through Woodford County in central Kentucky and passes by some of the most charming and beautiful landscapes in the entire country. The pike is 15 miles long, including a two-mile stretch of road that features centuries-old limestone fences, pastures, barns and a tunnel-like oak tree canopy on either side of the road. Those lucky enough to drive it during the fall experience a view that’s truly special.

Sixty miles southeast of Lexington is a nature lover’s paradise, the Daniel Boone National Forest. Driving any one of the state routes that passes through the preserve would satisfy most leaf peepers. However, for those who insist on getting out of the car and into the woods, hiking the trails in and around Slade will provide all the leaf colors desired, not to mention jaw-dropping views of Red River Gorge, Natural Bridge and Chimney Top Trail.

To find colors and educational opportunities, head to the Bernheim Forest and Arboretum, located just outside Clermont. Not only does it contain 16,137 acres worth of arboretum, forest and nature preserve, but it has nature and science programming, dozens of folk art installations and playgrounds for children of all ages.

Pushing to the western part of the state, don’t miss out on the Woodlands Trace Scenic Byway. This road starts at Grand Rivers and takes travelers through the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area and into Tennessee. Along the way, sightseers will be surrounded by all the autumn splendor Kentucky has to offer.

Beyond fall foliage, Kentucky is the place to be for autumn fun -- from haunted mansions and ghost walks to u-pick offerings at farms all across the state. For more information visit www.kentuckytourism.com.

The Bluegrass State has amazing things to do and see regardless of the time of year, but Kentucky in the fall is hard to beat.

Tigers' 5-game streak interrupted, Raiders hold UHS scoreless

All photos Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Avoiding a challenge for the ball from Bloomington's Finn Moore, Urbana's Winner Nana pushes the ball up the field during first-half action in the Tigers' home match on Tuesday. UHS, who enjoyed a five-game win streak heading into the contest, and the Raiders finished the day with a scoreless draw. Nana and the Tigers are back on the pitch next Tuesday, hosting Champaign Central. Two days later, they will travel to the other side of Champaign to take on Centennial.

~ More match photos ~

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