ROSEMONT, Ill. – Fighting Illini junior Aron Hiltzik was named the Big Ten Tennis Athlete of the Week, the league office announced on Tuesday afternoon. Hiltzik is coming off a strong performance at the MLK Invitational in Atlanta over the three-day weekend. The honor is the second of Hiltzik's career and first for the Illini this season.
Hiltzik went undefeated in his three singles matches at the three-day MLK Invitational. On Saturday, the No. 29-ranked Hiltzik defeated Georgia's No. 31-ranked Emil Reinberg, 7-6, 4-6, 6-1. Sunday saw the Wilmette, Ill. native earn a 6-4, 6-2 victory over No. 61 Andrew Li of Georgia Tech. In his final singles match of the weekend, Hiltzik moved to 3-0 in the tournament with a 7-6, 7-5 win over Columbia's No. 48, Shawn Hadavi.
The Illini junior also teamed up with freshman Aleks Kovacevic for a doubles victory on Sunday to defeat Georgia Tech's Fiegel and Li, 6-4. Hiltzik is now 6-1 against ITA-ranked opponents this season.
Aron is the first Illini to garner the Big Ten Tennis Athlete of the Week award since Aleks Vukic on April 5, 2016. The first dual match of the season for the Fighting Illini is slated for Saturday, Jan. 28 at the ITA Kick-Off Weekend in Norman, Okla. Illinois will take on the Arkansas Razorbacks at 10 a.m. CT.
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