Gosea Post-Match Interview | Dancer Post-Match Interview 

URBANA, Ill. - The Fighting Illini Men's tennis team punched its ticket to Waco, Texas for the Round of 16 with a 4-2 victory over Drake in the second round of the NCAA Tournament Saturday afternoon. Play began outside, however rain caused the match to be delayed and singles was played inside.

"Drake's a great team; they have a lot of good players and are extremely well coached," head coach Brad Dancer said. "I actually felt we outplayed Drake in the doubles. We missed a lot of easy put-aways and some things we could've capitalized on and maybe won the doubles point. In singles, you go indoors. It's a little stressful. Drake, they love playing indoors. I think it was a little bit of a wave of momentum against our team and our guys were rock solid. They were tough as nails. They showed their grittiness and I love that."

The victory marked the eighth time in coach Dancer's ten years at the helm that Illinois has reached the Round of 16. The team secured the match victory with singles wins from Aleks Vukic, Jared Hiltzik, Ross Guignon and Farris Gosea, in said order.

Doubles play started outside with Farris Gosea and Aleks Vukic earning an 8-5 victory over Salibasic/Mullis on court two. The Bulldogs quickly responded with Lott/Philips defeating No. 36 Jared Hiltzik and Tim Kopinski 8-5 on court one.

Due to inclement weather, the match on court three was moved inside. Drake took the early one point advantage when Frost/Patel defeated Ross Guignon and Aron Hiltzik 8-7 (7-2).

No. 74 Aleks Vukic was first to finish with a 6-0, 6-3 victory over Calum MacGeoch on court five. The win marked the 44th victory for the freshman, adding to his school record for most wins in a single season.

No. 23 Jared Hiltzik was next to finish with a 7-5, 6-4 victory over No. 66 Ben Lott on court two. Jared improved his winning streak to seven. Ross Guignon followed that up with a gutsy 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 victory over Benn Mullis on court six.

Drake's lone singles victory came from Matt Frost on court three. He defeated No. 65 Tim Kopinski 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.

As No. 81 Aron Hiltzik went up 5-2 in the third set on court four, No. 33 Farris Gosea clinched the match in a third set tiebreak. The senior defeated No. 40 Alen Salibasic 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4).

In the Round of 16, the fourth-seeded Illini will have a rematch with [13] North Carolina on Thursday May 14 at Noon CT at the Hurd Tennis Center in Waco, Texas.

Full results from today's match can be found below. 

Singles 
1. #33 Farris Gosea (ILL) def. #40 Alen Salibasic (DRAKE) 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) 
2. #23 Jared Hiltzik (ILL) def. #66 Ben Lott (DRAKE) 7-5, 6-4 
3. Matt Frost (DRAKE) def. #65 Tim Kopinski (ILL) 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 
4. #81 Aron Hiltzik (ILL) vs. Ravi Patel (DRAKE) 6-3, 3-6, 5-2, unfinished 
5. #74 Aleks Vukic (ILL) def. Calum MacGeoch (DRAKE) 6-0, 6-3 
6. Ross Guignon (ILL) def. Ben Mullis (DRAKE) 7-6 (9-7), 6-4 

Doubles
1. Ben Lott/Bayo Phillips (DRAKE) def. #36 Jared Hiltzik/Tim Kopinski (ILL) 8-5 
2. Farris Gosea/Aleks Vukic (ILL) def. Alen Salibasic/Ben Mullis (DRAKE) 8-5 
3. Matt Frost/Ravi Patel (DRAKE) def. Ross Guignon/Aron Hiltzik (ILL) 8-7 (7-2) 

Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (5,2,6,3,1)