Ilinykh/Katsalapov rejoined Zhulin and began competing together in the 2008–09 season, placing fourth at the Russian Junior Championships. Their international debut came in the 2009–10 season. After winning gold medals at their Junior Grand Prix events in Budapest and Torun, they qualified to the JGP Final, where they took the silver medal behind Ksenia Monko / Kirill Khaliavin. Though second also at the Russian Junior Championships, Ilinykh/Katsalapov outscored Monko/Khaliavin for the gold at the 2010 World Junior Championships. They were named Discovery of the Year at the 2010 Crystal Ice Awards held in October 2010 in Moscow.