Results

FT. MYERS, Fla. - With the dual season starting in less then a week, the No. 11 Illinois men's tennis team traversed to Ft. Myers, Fla. this past weekend to host its annual Illini Invite. Illinois competed in various doubles and singles matches vs. No. 23 Memphis and Florida Golf Coast University.

The Illini strung together a strong start to 2015 as they finished with a 17-6 record over the course of Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Seniors Tim Kopinski and Ross Guignon, the No. 3 ranked doubles team in the nation, finished the weekend unbeaten at 3-0. Kopinski/Guignon opened Thursday with a 6-2 victory over Florida Golf Coast's Alfonzo/Alfonzo. The duo also garnered wins over Memphis' Glennon/Lemke (6-3) and Watson/Asser (7-5).

Individually, three Illini emerged unblemished in singles competition. No. 44 Aleks Vukic opened the invite with a win over A. Alfonzo (FGCU) 0-6, 7-5, 6-3. The freshmen followed with wins over Memphis' Lemke, 6-4, 6-2, and No. 23 Andrew Watson, 7-6(4), 6-4, to round out the weekend.

Fellow Freshman Toshiki Matsuya added wins over Tianyu Bao (FGCU) 6-2, 6-3 and Memphis' Patrick Mayer and Shakeel Manji, defeating them both in straight sets 6-2, 6-2. Guignon added three singles wins to finish 6-0 on the weekend. Guignon defeated Louis Asser (MEM) 6-1, 6-1 on Thursday and added wins over Manji (MEM) 6-3, 6-1 and Lemke (MEM) 6-4, 6-3.

Meanwhile, No. 40 Kopinski went 1-1 over the weekend in singles garnering a win over No. 23 Watson (MEM) 6-3, 6-0. The senior fell to No. 79 Connor Glennon (MEM) 6-4, 6-2.

The Illini also picked up a singles wins from junior Brian Page and No. 62 Aron Hiltzik. Hiltzik also defeated No. 23 Andrew Watson in straight sets 6-3, 7-6(5). Lastly, Vukic teamed up with Page and Hiltzik over the weekend to claim two doubles victories.

Up next, the Illini shift into high gear with a road matchup set against No. 6 Baylor on Jan. 21.