Hoh Reaches Semifinals at Big Ten Indoor Championships

Men's Tennis October 30, 2011

Hoh Reaches Semifinals at Big Ten Indoor Championships

Oct. 30, 2011

IOWA CITY, Iowa - Junior Stephen Hoh captured two more victories on Sunday to advance to the semifinals of the Big Ten Indoor Championships, making him 4-0 thus far in the four-day tournament.

"It was another good day for Stephen," Illini associate head coach Marcos Asse said. "Opponents continue to come after him with everything they've got and play some of their best tennis against him. He was down set point in the first set of his second match today, and he just kept his head down and played hard. When the dust settled, he came out on top. It was great to see him keep his composure the entire match and throughout the entire tournament so far."

Seventh-seeded Hoh started the day with a quick 6-4, 6-0 win over Michael Sicora of Minnesota. The Australia native added to that success with a 7-6, 6-4 quarterfinal victory over Penn State's Russel Bader to advance to Monday's semifinals.

Meanwhile, freshmen Ross Guignon and Tim Kopinski and junior Bruno Abdelnour could not maintain their momentum from Saturday, as each of the three Illini fell in the round of 16. Guignon dropped a 6-1, 6-4 match to top-seeded Josh MacTaggart (Indiana), who is ranked No. 55 nationally. The Illini newcomer bounced back, however, with a convincing 7-5, 6-0 exhibition victory over Michigan's Eli Brown. Abdelnour put up a solid fight as well but fell in a 6-3, 7-6(4) thriller to Michigan's Michael Zhu.

"I think Stephen is starting to develop things that we knew he had all along," Asse said. "We're getting to see it in competition. He has taken a lot of accountability for his tennis. He has played better - from his serve to his hustle pressure and transition plays. He is just playing bigger and better and managing himself very well strategically."

Hoh will be back in action tomorrow morning for the singles semifinals, beginning at 9 a.m. CT. The final match will take place at noon CT.

Results and recap will be available at fightingillini.com.

Big Ten Indoor Championships - Illini Results

Round of 16
No. 55 Josh MacTaggart (Indiana) def. Ross Guignon (Illinois), 6-1, 6-4
Will Kendall (Indiana) def. Tim Kopinski (Illinois), 6-3, 6-2
Stephen Hoh (Illinois) def. Michael Sicora (Minnesota), 6-4, 6-0
Michael Zhu (Michigan) def. Bruno Abdelnour (Illinois), 6-3, 7-6(4)