Vukic Post-Match Interview 

URBANA, Ill. - The Fighting Illini men's tennis team opened its play in the 2015 Big Ten Tournament with a 4-0 victory over Iowa in the quarterfinals Friday morning. [1] Illinois is set to face [4] Northwestern in the semifinals Saturday at Noon in Urbana.

"Outside of maybe some opening-game jitters, I thought we had good focus in the doubles," head coach Brad Dancer said. "We consolidated some breaks and then had double breaks in situations and that was really positive for us. I could tell those guys were dialed in, locked in and focused ... On a Saturday at Noon, we should have a huge crowd out here tomorrow. Can't wait for the big experience for our guys."

Illinois started strong in doubles with wins on courts two and three, securing its eighth doubles victory in the last nine matches. Farris Gosea and Aleks Vukic were the first to finish with an 8-2 victory over Patrick/Silverstein on court two. Gosea and Vukic remained undefeated (10-0) playing together. Ross Guignon and Aron Hiltzik clinched the doubles point with an 8-4 win over Estenssoro/Jacoby.

The Illini quickly set the tone in singles, claiming first set victories on all six courts. No. 55 Tim Kopinski was the first Illini to secure a singles win. Kopinski, the First-Team All-Big Ten selection, defeated Dominic Patrick 6-0, 6-4 on court three.

No. 66 Aleks Vukic quickly followed with a straight set (6-0, 6-3) win on court five over Jake Jacoby. Notching his 40th win of the season, Vukic, who was named Second-Team All-Big Ten, moved one step closer to breaking the school record win total in a season. The Sydney, Australia native is now two wins away from matching Ryler DeHeart's school record of 42 victories.

No. 45 Farris Gosea clinched the 4-0 victory for the Illini on court two. Gosea, the unanimous First-Team All-Big Ten selection, defeated Lefteris Theodorou 6-4, 6-1.

All remaining matches were abandoned when Illinois garnered its fourth point.

Up next, Illinois will face fourth-seeded Northwestern who defeated fifth-seeded Indiana 4-1 this morning. The Illini and the Wildcats met in Urbana on Feb. 20 with Illinois claiming a 5-2 victory. The in-state rivals last met in the Big Ten Tournament in 2013, when the Illini defeated Northwestern 5-2 in the quarterfinals.

Full results from today's match are below.

Singles 
1. #24 Jared Hiltzik (ILL) vs. Matt Hagan (IOWA) 6-1, 3-6, 0-2, unfinished 
2. #45 Farris Gosea (ILL) def. Lefteris Theodorou (IOWA) 6-4, 6-1 
3. #55 Tim Kopinski (ILL) def. Dominic Patrick (IOWA) 6-0, 6-4 
4. #63 Aron Hiltzik (ILL) vs. Josh Silverstein (IOWA) 7-5, 2-1, unfinished 
5. #66 Aleks Vukic (ILL) def. Jake Jacoby (IOWA) 6-0, 6-3 
6. Toshiki Matsuya (ILL) vs. Nils Hallestrand (IOWA) 6-2, 3-2, unfinished 

Doubles 
1. #68 Tim Kopinski/Jared Hiltzik (ILL) vs. Matt Hagan/Lefteris Theodorou (IOWA) 6-4, unfinished 
2. Farris Gosea/Aleks Vukic (ILL) def. Dominic Patrick/Josh Silverstein (IOWA) 8-2 
3. Ross Guignon/Aron Hiltzik (ILL) def. Andres Estenssoro/Jake Jacoby (IOWA) 8-4 

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