VALPARAISO, Ind. – Fighting Illini men's tennis redshirt junior Julian Childers claimed the A Singles title at the 2015 Crusader Invitational hosted by the University of Valparaiso. Childers defeated Luka Vitosevic (Toledo) Sunday afternoon by the score of 6-2, 6-0 to earn his first fall singles title.

Childers opened the tournament with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Omar Espinosa (Toledo). Childers topped Yossi Dahan (Youngstown State) 6-1, 6-2 to reach the semifinals where he defeated Theo Baudin (NW OH) 6-1, 6-1 to reach the finals.

Redshirt freshman Pablo Landa also made a deep run on the weekend, reaching the championship of the B Singles draw. Landa fell to Mate Svjetlicic (WMU) in the championship 3-6, 6-4, 10-7. Defeating Eric Olivarez (WMU) in three sets to reach the finals, Landa topped Ronni Myburgh (NW OH) to open the tournament and defeated Danilo Pejovic (Toledo) to reach the semifinals. 

The two Illini also teamed up in the doubles draw where they bowed out in the third round.

Full results of the Illini at the 2015 Crusader Invitational can be found below

2015 Crusader Invitational October 3-12, 2015
Courts of NWI
Valparaiso, Indiana

A Singles Draw

Julian Childers (Illinois) def. Omar Espinosa (Toledo), 6-3, 6-1

Julian Childers (Illinois) def. Yossi Dahan (Youngstown State), 6-1, 6-2

Julian Childers (Illinois) def. Theo Baudin (NW OH), 6-1, 6-1

Julian Childers (Illinois) def. Luka Vitosevic (Toledo), 6-2, 6-0

B Singles Draw

Pablo Landa (Illinois) def. Ronnie Myburgh (Northwestern Ohio), 4-6, 6-3, 10-2

Pablo Landa (Illinois) def. Danilo Pejovic (Toledo), 6-4, 7-5

Pablo Landa (Illinois) def. Eric Olivarez (WMU), 5-7, 6-3, 10-7

Mate Svjetlicic (WMU) def. Pablo Landa (Illinois) 3-6, 6-4, 10-7 

A Doubles Draw

Julian Childers/Pablo Landa (Illinois) def. Iustin Baciu/Ronnie Myburgh (Northwestern Ohio) 6-2

Julian Childers/Pablo Landa (Illinois) def. Tom Hjertonsson/Eric Marbach (Northern Illinois) 6-3

Maik Steiner/Matt Hamilton (Western Michigan) def. Julian Childers/Pablo Landa (Illinois) 6-4