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SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Angela Bizzarri was at her best Saturday. Her Illinois teammates weren't too shabby, either.

Led by Bizzarri's first-place finish, the Illini locked up an NCAA Championships berth with a runner-up showing at the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships.

"Angela remained consistent today as she has been this whole year," UI women's cross-country coach Jeremy Rasmussen said. "She had a great race, and it was nice to see her win after she has come in second place at this meet for the past three years."

Bizzarri became the second Illini to win a regional title, joining Cassie Hunt (2004). The senior, who finished in 20 minutes, 7.5 seconds, is the first Illini to place in the top 10 at the NCAA Regional Championships all four years. It was Bizzarri's second individual win of the season and third of her career.

The top two teams received bids to the NCAA Championships on Nov. 23 in Terre Haute, Ind. Minnesota won the meet.

"Our goal for this meet was to be one of the top two teams, and we achieved this goal so we are proud of that," Rasmussen said.

Sophomore Kristin Sutherland was fourth (20:44.1), senior Elizabeth Boyle was 12th (21:12.5) and junior Chantelle Groenewoud was 23rd (21:34.2) to receive All-Region honors. Jamie Brusa also scored for the Illini, coming in 51st (22:07.4).

In the men's race, sophomore Colin Mickow was All-Region with an 18th-place finish to lead the Illini for the sixth time this season.

"Colin had a phenomenal race," UI coach Wendel McRaven said. "He put himself in position from the start to run with the lead pack, and from there, he executed the race plan."

Illinois placed 10th.

In tennis:

Illini advance. Illini juniors Connor Roth and Abe Souza won for the first time at the JSM Challenger in Urbana, coming through in qualifying play Saturday.

"This is my third year playing in the tournament, and it's always a little bit of an adjustment with the ball kids and chair umpires and people everywhere," Souza said. "Because of all that, the first round can be pretty stressful, so it's nice to get through and advance."

Souza topped UI women's tennis volunteer assistant coach Adam Chervin 6-0, 6-1. Roth defeated former LSU All-American Colt Gaston 7-6 (9), 6-4.

Senior Marek Czerwinski lost to Phillip Simmonds 6-4, 6-7 (9), 6-4.