WACO, Texas - Junior Jared Hiltzik advanced to the Round of 16 in the NCAA Singles Championships, earning All-American status, with a 7-6(7), 6-4 win over [9-16] Dominik Koepfer of Tulane Thursday morning. By reaching the Sweet 16, No. 23 Hiltzik earns All-American status for the second straight year, becoming the first Illini to earn back-to-back All-American status since Dennis Nevolo in 2011 and 2012. He's the ninth Illini to garner All-American status in multiple years.

"Kind of like yesterday, I got off to a slow start in the beginning, but I competed really well," junior Jared Hiltzik said. "He showed a lot of different things that put me on edge. I started to figure out his game towards the end and I'm happy to advance. It's pretty sweet earning All-American status. Being an All-American was one of my goals last year. This year my goal is to win a national championship and I'm one step closer."

Broken early in the first set, Hiltzik battled back to win four straight games to go up 6-5. Serving out the first set, Hiltzik was broken to go to a tiebreak. In a back-and-fourth tiebreak, Jared would take the first set at 9-7.

In the second set, No. 12 Koepfer broke Hiltzik to go up 4-3, but Hiltzik immediately broke back to even the score at four all. Hiltzik would break Koepfer to win the set 6-4 and advance to the Round of 16 for the first time in his three years qualifying for the Singles Championships.

"Koepfer was really difficult for Jared early because he came up with some incredible shots but also made some errors and I don't think Jared could calibrate in the first set," head coach Brad Dancer said. "The end of the first was purely a gut check from both guys with big hustle points determining the end of the set. In the second set, Jared plays with great purpose early and looks to have a chance to separate in the middle of the second. Here comes Koepfer again with some tremendous tennis to go back up a break. Down the stretch Jared played tough and managed to tough it out. Jared is still trying to find his way with his shots, but he has competed extremely well emotionally so far in this tournament."

Up next, the junior will face Lloyd Glasspool of Texas Friday. The match time will be posted following the conclusion of singles and doubles Thursday evening. No. 42 Glasspool is on a surprising run in the tournament, having upset No. 3 [3] Mackenzie McDonald (UCLA) in the opening round and defeated No. 28 Ronnie Schneider (North Carolina) in the Round of 32.