URBANA, Ill. - The Fighting Illini men's tennis team fell to No. 7 Texas A&M Sunday afternoon, 4-2, inside Atkins Tennis Center. The No. 12 Illini move to 6-4 on the season, suffering their first loss at home this season.
"We had some good doubles play. The guys came out on courts two and three and did a great job there," head coach Brad Dancer said. "I thought our urgency in singles early on was poor. Credit to our guys, as they always do, for fighting back to give ourselves a chance to win."
Illinois took the early advantage by claiming the doubles point with wins at the No. 2 and No. 3 positions. Julian Childers and Pengxuan Jiang garnered a 6-1 victory over Adams/Catanzariti on court three. Aleks Vukic and Aron Hiltzik bested No. 33 Lunkin/Arconada by the score of 6-2.
Texas A&M responded early in singles by taking the first set on five courts. The Illini didn't back down, however, forcing a third set in three matches.
No. 10 Jared Hiltzik increased the Illini lead by earning his seventh victory of the season. Hiltzik defeated Jordi Arconada 6-3, 6-2 at the No. 2 position.
The Aggies evened the score with victories on courts three and five. Brian Page fell to Jackson Withrow 6-3, 6-2 at the No. 5 position. No. 69 Aron Hiltzik dropped his match 6-1, 7-6 to AJ Catanzariti.
Texas A&M took the lead with a win on court four as Harrison Adams defeated Julian Childers 7-6, 3-6, 6-2.
The clincher came on court one where No. 8 Arthur Rinderknech defeated No. 12 Aleks Vukic 6-1, 5-7, 6-3. Vukic suffered his first loss of the season.
Up next, the Orange and Blue will host two more highly ranked teams next weekend. The Illini will welcome No. 2 Virginia on Feb. 27 at 6 p.m. and No. 3 TCU on Feb. 28 at 1 p.m.
#7 Texas A&M 4, #12 Illinois 2
Singles competition
1. #8 Arthur Rinderknech (A&M) def. #12 Aleks Vukic (ILL) 6-1, 5-7, 6-3
2. #10 Jared Hiltzik (ILL) def. Jordy Arconada (A&M) 6-3, 6-2
3. AJ Catanzariti (A&M) def. Aron Hiltzik (ILL) 6-1, 7-6 (7-1)
4. Harrison Adams (A&M) def. Julian Childers (ILL) 7-6 (7-2), 3-6, 6-2
5. Jackson Withrow (A&M) def. Brian Page (ILL) 6-3, 6-2
6. Asher Hirsch (ILL) vs. Max Lunkin (A&M) 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 1-2, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. Jared Hiltzik/Brian Page (ILL) vs. #26 Jackson Withrow/Arthur Rinderknech (A&M) 2-5, unfinished
2. Aleks Vukic/Aron Hiltzik (ILL) def. #33 Max Lunkin/Jordy Arconada (A&M) 6-2
3. Julian Childers/Pengxuan Jiang (ILL) def. Harrison Adams/AJ Catanzariti (A&M) 6-1
Match Notes:
Texas A&M 11-2; National ranking #7
Illinois 6-4; National ranking #12
Order of finish: Doubles
