Dancer Post-Match Interview | Gosea Post-Match Interview

URBANA, Ill - The Fighting Illini men's tennis team advanced to the 2015 Big Ten Tournament championship match with a 4-0 victory over in-state rival Northwestern in the semifinals. Due to inclement weather Saturday morning, the match was played inside Atkins Tennis Center. Head coach Brad Dancer advances to his eighth Big Ten Tournament title match in his 10 years heading the program. [1] Illinois will face [2] Ohio State Sunday at Noon for the 2015 Big Ten Tournament title.

"Northwestern, they have a great team," head coach Brad Dancer said. "They have a great indoor team. So they posed a lot of challenges for us in that sense, but our guys responded today. We're thrilled to play at home, to play in front of our fans and to have a chance to win a Big Ten title tomorrow."

The Illini defeated Northwestern for the second time this season, securing their 26th consecutive win against the Wildcats. Illinois' last loss to Northwestern was in 1997.

The Orange and Blue secured the doubles point with wins on courts one and three. The Illini have claimed the opening point in nine of their last 10 matches. No. 68 Jared Hiltzik and Tim Kopinski defeated No. 58 Stropshire/Pasareanu 8-4 on court one, while Ross Guignon and Aron Hiltzik topped Horoz/Kumar 8-6.

Northwestern claimed two first set victories but were unable to stop the Illini from garnering singles win on courts five, one and two. Aleks Vukic was first to finish for the Illini, grabbing his 41st win this season in the process. Vukic defeated Fedor Baev 7-6(3), 6-0 on court five. The freshman is just one win away from matching Ryler DeHeart's school record of most singles wins in a season.

No. 24 Jared Hiltzik secured his 10th win over a ranked opponent this dual season with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over No. 42 Sam Shropshire on court one. No. 45 Farris Gosea clinched for the Illini on court two. Gosea defeated Strong Kirchheimer 6-3, 6-2.

The Illini will compete in the finals tomorrow at Noon CT against two-seeded Ohio State. The Buckeyes defeated three-seeded Minnesota 4-0 Saturday afternoon. Illinois will look to claim its second Big Ten Tournament Championship in the last four years.

Full results from today's match are below.

Singles 
1. #24 Jared Hiltzik (ILL) def. #42 Sam Shropshire (NU) 6-4, 6-4 
2. #45 Farris Gosea (ILL) def. Strong Kirchheimer (NU) 6-3, 6-2 
3. #55 Tim Kopinski (ILL) vs. Konrad Zieba (NU) 6-7 (6-8), 2-2, unfinished 
4. #63 Aron Hiltzik (ILL) vs. Logan Staggs (NU) 7-5, 3-3, unfinished 
5. #66 Aleks Vukic (ILL) def. Fedor Baev (NU) 7-6 (7-3), 6-0 
6. Ross Guignon (ILL) vs. Alp Horoz (NU) 3-6, 1-1, unfinished 

Doubles 
1. #68 Jared Hiltzik/Tim Kopinski (ILL) def. #58 Sam Shropshire/Alex Pasareanu (NU) 8-4 
2. Farris Gosea/Aleks Vukic (ILL) vs. Fedor Baev/Strong Kirchheimer (NU) 7-7, unfinished 
3. Aron Hiltzik/Ross Guignon (ILL) def. Alp Horoz/Mihir Kumar (NU) 8-6 

Match Notes: Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (5,1,2)