Dancer Post-Match Interview | Vukic Post-Match Interview
URBANA, Ill. - The Fighting Illini men's tennis team knocked off the defending national champions Saturday night inside Atkins Tennis Center. No. 11 Illinois took down No. 2 Virginia 4-3 in a thriller.
The Illini garnered four singles victories to top the Cavaliers, with No. 9 Aleks Vukic delivering the clincher on court two. Jared Hiltzik, Aron Hiltzik and Asher Hirsch also produced singles wins.
"We have a group of guys that work so hard and I'm really happy for them and proud of them," head coach Brad Dancer said. "I give Virginia a lot of credit. Our crowd is amazing here and it's a really tough place to play. They came in here and fought extremely hard, fighting us tooth and nail. All of our guys were tough today and that's what I'm proud of."
Illinois fell behind early, dropping the doubles point in heartbreak fashion, as the matches on courts one and two went to a tiebreaker. Julian Childers and Pengxuan Jiang fell 6-4 to Richmond/Cornish. Aron Hiltzik and Aleks Vukic couldn't overcome Corinteli/Aragone, falling 7-6(4) on court two. Jared Hiltzik and Alex Jesse were down in the tiebreaker with Kwiatowski/Styslinger when the match was abandoned.
Illinois struck first in singles, as No. 11 Jared Hiltzik evened the score with a victory on court one. Hiltzik defeated No. 29 Collin Altamarino by the scores of 6-2, 6-3 to improve his dual record to 8-1.
Virginia responded with a win on court five. In his collegiate debut, redshirt freshman Pablo Landa fell to Henrik Wiersholm 6-4, 6-2.
The remaining matches tightened up, with all but one going to three sets. No. 66 Aron Hiltzik gave the Illini a 2-1 lead over the Cavaliers with a victory on court three. Hiltzik defeated Mac Styslinger 6-2, 2-6, 6-4.
As Julian Childers battled in a 7-6(0), 7-6(6) loss to No. 111 J.C. Aragone, the Illini picked up breaks in the third set on the two remaining matches.
Asher Hirsch battled from down a set to defeat Luca Cortineli 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. Seconds later Aleks Vukic topped No. 3 Thai-Son Kwiatkowski 7-6(0), 3-6, 6-3 to clinch the victory for the Orange and Blue. Vukic improved his dual record to 8-1.
The Illini will be back in action tomorrow at Atkins Tennis Center with a rematch set against No. 8 TCU at 1 p.m.
#11 Illinois 4, #2 Virginia 3
Singles competition
1. #11 Jared Hiltzik (ILL) def. #29 Collin Altamirano (VA) 6-2, 6-3
2. #9 Aleks Vukic (ILL) def. #3 Thai-Son Kwiatkowski (VA) 7-6 (7-0), 3-6, 6-3
3. #66 Aron Hiltzik (ILL) def. Mac Styslinger (VA) 6-2, 2-6, 6-4
4. #111 J.C. Aragone (VA) def. Julian Childers (ILL) 7-6 (7-0), 7-6 (8-6)
5. Henrik Wiersholm (VA) def. Pablo Landa (ILL) 6-4, 6-2
6. Asher Hirsch (ILL) def. Luca Corinteli (VA) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Jared Hiltzik/Alex Jesse (ILL) vs. #6 Thai-Son Kwiatkowski/Mac Styslinger (VA) 6-6, unfinished
2. Luca Corinteli/J.C. Aragone (VA) def. Aleks Vukic/Aron Hiltzik (ILL) 7-6 (7-4)
3. Harrison Richmond/Jonathan Cornish (VA) def. Julian Childers/Pengxuan Jiang (ILL) 6-4
Match Notes:
Virginia 8-2; National ranking #2
Illinois 7-4; National ranking #11
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (1,5,3,4,6,2)
Official: Doug Rice T-2:37 A-712
