The national champion Illinois men's tennis team will reunite this weekend for the first time since winning the NCAA title at the conclusion of last year's perfect 32-0 season.

Although the Illini competed in summer tournaments and have been training individually, they did not assemble for their first practice until they arrived in Napa Valley, Calif., on Thursday, only one day before taking the courts for competition.

"It's very motivating to be back with my teammates," Illinois junior Chris Martin said. "College sports are all about the camaraderie between teammates, and it's great to be back playing with everyone."

Although the Napa Valley tournament is set up in dual-match format, no team scores are kept.

"We're happy to get on the road again and start playing together," Illinois men's tennis head coach Craig Tiley said. "It's been a long time since May. The fall gives our players an opportunity to improve on their individual games and prove themselves. It's a chance for some of the athletes, who don't play as much in the spring, to have an opportunity to step into the spotlight. This is a perfect situation for us."

For the national champions, many perfect situations have presented themselves since the last time the men took on collegiate competition.

Martin and classmate Evan Zeder took advantage of their summer tournament schedule, garnishing Intercollegiate Tennis Association titles at the summer nationals, which were held on rival Big Ten territory at Indiana in late August. Martin swept the tournament titles, winning the singles title over Hoosier Ryan Recht, before joining Zeder to claim the doubles crown over Virginia's Rylan Rizza and Nick Meythaler.

"(Chris and I) are a good team, and I think we might surprise some people," Zeder said. "It's nice to have the title, but we have to put that behind us and focus on playing."

The men will have to focus with tennis powerhouses including California, Texas A & M and Georgia making appearances at the invitational.

"It's only been a year since we played at Napa, but I feel like a lot has changed and that we're a lot more experienced, with everything that has happened," Illinois sophomore Ryler DeHeart said. "Last year, I went into this tournament carefree and fearless. I didn't feel like I had anything to prove. Now, we're expected to do well, which puts a lot of pressure on you, so I'm trying hard to find a balance."

DeHeart was last year's Napa Valley MVP, sweeping through the weekend tournament with a 6-0 season in his collegiate debut, a prophetic beginning to the Illini's unblemished record.

"Usually any time anyone on our team plays, we know that we have a target on our backs (as defending champions), and that raises the level of competition the other players bring to the matches," Martin said. "We just have to step up and meet the challenge."