Jan. 23, 2015
Ball State Results | Green Bay Results | Dancer Post Match Interview | Hiltzik Post Match Interview
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The 11th ranked Illinois men's tennis opened the 2015 home slate with victories over Green Bay (4-0) and Ball State (7-0) on Friday. Today's wins at Atkins Tennis Center extended the Illini's current home winning streak to 17 matches, good for the fourth longest home winning streak in school history.
Illinois took the early lead in both matches, after grabbing the doubles point. Senior Farris Gosea grabbed two doubles wins, to go along with two singles wins, on the day. Against Green Bay, senior Gosea and freshman Aleks Vukic defeated Leto/Kraenzler 6-1. Gosea then teamed up with junior Brian Page to defeat Leonard/Stutz, 6-2.
"It felt great to be home, we were a little fatigued from the travel and everything we've been on," head coach Brad Dancer said. "I'm proud of our guys for coming out. We did a great job focusing early on against Green Bay and against Ball State we did a great job in doubles."
Junior Jared Hiltzik and Aron Hiltzik also teamed up for their first dual match doubles victory as collegiate teammates. The brothers set the tone against Ball State with a 6-1 win over Anderson/Elliot. Lastly in doubles, freshman Toshiki Matsuya and senior Ross Guignon defeated Green Bay's Islinger/Tebon, 6-1.
In singles vs. Green Bay, No. 31 Jared Hiltzik defeated Islinger 6-0, 6-3 for the first point. The Illini then rattled of wins within minutes of each other to close out the match as Page defeated Soler (6-3, 6-1) and Gosea defeated No. 77 Michael Tenzer (6-1, 6-2).
With the new ITA format for non-conference matches, play was stopped once Illinois clinched the victory with four points. When play ended, Matsuya was up 6-2, 3-1 on Leto and Vukic was up 6-3, 3-4 on Schramm. Lastly Aron Hiltzik was up 6-2, 4-3 on Scott when play stopped.
In singles vs. Ball State, Ross Guignon took the first singles point with a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Jan Jirus. Jared followed with his second singles victory on the day, defeating Patrick Elliot 6-4, 6-3. Matsuya clinched the match with a 7-5, 6-0 win over Andrew Stutz for his first singles victory in the Orange and Blue.
Deciding to finish out the match, Page earned his second victory on the day with a 3-6, 6-4 win over Patrick Downs, while Gosea and Aron also added wins to round out the match.
Illini Results - Green Bay
Singles
1. Farris Gosea (ILL) def. #77 Michael Tenzer (UWGB) 6-1, 6-2
2. #31 Jared Hiltzik (ILL) def. Leopold G Islinger (UWGB) 6-0, 6-3
3. #62 Aron Hiltzik (ILL) vs. Howard Scott (UWGB) 6-2, 4-3, unfinished
4. #44 Aleks Vukic (ILL) vs. Joshua Schramm (UWGB) 6-3, 3-4, unfinished
5. Toshiki Matsuya (ILL) vs. Joey Leto (UWGB) 6-2, 3-1, unfinished
6. Brian Page (ILL) def. Jorge G Soler (UWGB) 6-3, 6-1
Doubles
1. Jared Hiltzik/Aron Hiltzik (ILL) vs. Michael Tenzer/Howard Scott (UWGB) 2-5, unfinished
2. Farris Gosea/Aleks Vukic (ILL) def. Joey Leto/Florian Kraenzler (UWGB) 6-1
3. Toshiki Matsuya/Ross Guignon (ILL) def. Leopold G Islinger/Michael Tebon (UWGB) 6-1
Illini Results - Ball State
Singles
1. Farris Gosea (ILL) def. Lucas Anderson (BSU) 6-3, 7-6 (5)
2. #31 Jared Hiltzik (ILL) def. Patrick Elliot (BSU) 6-4, 6-3
3. #62 Aron Hiltzik (ILL) def. Ray Leonard (BSU) 3-6, 6-0, 6-1
4. Toshiki Matsuya (ILL) def. Andrew Stutz (BSU) 7-5, 6-0
5. Ross Guignon (ILL) def. Jan Jirus (BSU) 6-1, 6-0
6. Brian Page (ILL) def. Patrick Downs (BSU) 6-3, 6-4
Doubles
1. Aron Hiltzik/Jared Hiltzik (ILL) def. Lucas Anderson/Patrick Elliot (BSU) 6-1
2. Farris Gosea/Brian Page (ILL) def. Ray Leonard/Andrew Stutz (BSU) 6-2
3. Toshiki Matsuya/Ross Guignon (ILL) vs. Colin Rigney/Matt Helm (BSU) 4-3, unfinished
