The team score was better. The place in the standings was not.

For the second year in a row, the University of Illinois women's cross-country team finished sixth in the Big Ten Championships on Saturday at Columbus, Ohio.

Led by junior Danielle Fonzino and freshman Lindsay Martin, the Illini recorded 165 points, 21 fewer than last year.

Wisconsin repeated as team champion, placing five runners in the top seven to hold offsecond-place Michigan.

Fonzino placed 29th, running the 5-kilometer course in 18 minutes, 41 seconds. Decatur native Martin was right behind Fonzino with an 18:44 clocking.

In men's cross-country:Illini ninth.

Illinois recorded its lowest finish in the Big Ten meet in 30 years by placing ninth at Columbus, Ohio. In 1967, the Illini were 10th.

The UI's top finisher was senior Rob Winfield, 32nd in the 8-kilometer race in 25:32.

Michigan, with five runners in the top 11, claimed the team title with 29 points. Defending champion Wisconsin was next with 42.

Kevin Sullivan, the 1995 league champion, won in 23:42. Teammate and defending champion John Mortimer was second in 24:01.

In men's tennis: Teply rolls.

Illinois junior Jakub Teply knocked off Michigan State's Trey Eubanks, the 89th-ranked player in the nation, Saturday in the Rolex Regionals in Champaign.

Teply won 6-3, 7-5 and moved into the final 16 in the singles draw.

Other Illini advancing in singles were Brook Blain, Gavin Sontag and Oliver Freelove.