COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The 2015-16 Fighting Illini men's tennis team opened its fall season over the weekend at the Conference Challenge in College Station, Texas. The Illini garnered 11 total victories, including nine singles and two doubles wins.
"It was great to get in all the matches we did over the weekend," head coach Brad Dancer said. "All the guys were tested. We have loads of data and feedback now to move forward with. I'm excited about the process of building this team into the best they can be. The guys' attitudes demonstrate that they want it. Marcos once again did a great job of helping to manage guys through their matches."
Facing a talented field that included 10 ranked singles players, No. 46 Aron Hiltzik garnered Illinois' lone victory over a ranked singles player, defeating No. 117 Nicky Hu 6-4, 7-6(0). Hiltzik, who faced a ranked singles player in every one of his matches, finished 1-3 on the weekend.
Illini freshmen Asher Hirsch and Pengxuan Jiang both garnered Illini victories in their weekend debuts in the Orange and Blue. Hirsch put together the one of the best Illini performances on the weekend, finishing 3-1 in singles with two straight set victories. Jiang garnered his first collegiate singles win, defeating Oscar Janglin of Texas Tech in straight sets.
Redshirt junior Julian Childers also garnered three singles victories. Childers topped a trip of Harvard playrers, beating Michael Peters, Jean Thirouin and Kelvin Lam.
In doubles, the sophomore duo of Aron Hiltzik and Toshiki Matsuya defeated AJ Catanzariti & Jordi Arconada of Texas A&M 8-7(3). Alex Jesse & Hirsch garnered the other doubles victory for the Illini with an 8-4 win over Andy Zhou & Jean Thirouin of Harvard.
Next up for the Illini is the ITA All-American Championships. The tournament, which will be held in Tulsa, Oklahoma, opens with pre-qualifying rounds that start Oct. 3.
Full results of Illini at the Conference Challenge are below.
Singles Round 1
No. 35 Shane Vinsant, Texas A&M, def. No. 46 Aron Hiltzik, Illinois, 6-3, 6-4
Andy Zhou, Harvard, def. Toshiki Matsuya, Illinois, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(9)
No. 79 Jolan Cailleau, Texas Tech, def. Julian Childers, Illinois, 6-2, 6-1
Jordi Arconada, Texas A&M, def. Alex Jesse, Illinois, 7-6(3), 6-3
Brian Yeung, Harvard, def. Pengxuan Jiang, Illinois, 6-3, 6-2
Asher Hirsch, Illinois, def. Connor Curry, Texas Tech, 7-5, 6-3, 6-3
Kevin Lam, Texas A&M, def. Pablo Landa, Illinois, 2-6, 6-2, 6-4
Pablo Landa, Illinois, def. Jett Cash, Texas A&M, 8-5
Singles Round 2
No. 18 Felipe Soares, Texas Tech, def. No. 46 Aron Hiltzik, Illinois, 7-6(4), 6-2
No. 53 Arthur Rinderknech, Texas A&M, def. Toshiki Matsuya, Illinois, 6-2, 6-1
Brian Yeung, Harvard, def. Alex Jesse, Illinois, 6-1, 7-6(8)
No. 81 Alex Sendegeya, Texas Tech, def. Pengxuan Jiang, Illinois, 6-1, 6-2
Max Lunkin, Texas A&M, def. Pablo Landa, Illinois, 6-0, 6-3
Asher Hirsch, Illinois, def. Kelvin Lam, Harvard, 6-4, 6-3
Julian Childers, Illinois, def. Michael Peters, 6-2, 6-0
Singles Round 3
No. 53 Arthur Rinderknech, Texas A&M, def. Aron Hiltzik, Illinois, 6-7(7), 7-5, 7-5
No. 35 Shane Vinsant, Texas A&M, def. Toshiki Matsuya, Illinois, 6-3, 6-1
No. 101 Hugo Dojas, Texas Tech, def. Alex Jesse, Illinois, 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-2
No. 79 Jolan Cailleau, Texas Tech, def. Pengxuan Jian, Illinois, 6-4, 6-1
Asher Hirsch, Illinois, def. Grant Solomon, Harvard, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
Julian Childers, Illinois, def. Kelvin Lam, Harvard, 7-6(5), 6-2
Sam Giammalva, Texas A&M, def. Pablo Landa, Illinois, 6-0, 6-1
Singles Round 4
No. 46 Aron Hiltzik, Illinois def. No. 117 Nicky Hu, Harvard 6-4, 7-6(0)
No. 101 Hugo Dojas, Texas Tech def. Toshiki Matsuya, Illinois 6-1, 6-2
No. 55 AJ Catanzariti, Texas A&M def. Asher Hirsch, Illinois 6-3, 6-2
Julian Childers, Illinois def. Jean Thirouin, Harvard 5-7, 7-6(4), 6-1
Connor Curry, Texas Tech def. Pablo Landa, Illinois 7-5, 6-3
Pengxuan Jiang, Illinois def. Oscar Janglin, Texas A&M 6-3, 6-4
Doubles Round 1
No. 3 Felipe Soares & Hugo Dojas, Texas Tech def. Aron Hiltzik & Julian Childers, Illinois, 8-4
Arthur Rinderknech & Jordi Arconada, Texas A&M def. Alex Jesse & Pablo Landa, Illinois 8-2
Michael Peters & Kelvin Lam, Harvard def. Pengxuan Jiang & Toshiki Matsuya, Illinois 8-5
Doubles Round 2
Aron Hiltzik & Toshiki Matsuya, Illinois def. AJ Catanzariti & Jordi Arconada, Texas A&M 8-7(3)
Alex Jesse & Asher Hirsch, Illinois def. Andy Zhou & Jean Thirouin, Harvard 8-4
Connor Curry & Jolan Cailleau, Texas Tech def. Pengxuan Jiang & Julian Childers, Illinois 8-4
Doubles Round 3
No. 37 Nicky Hu & Brian Yeung, Harvard def. Aron Hiltzik & Toshiki Matsuya, Illinois 6-3
Alex Sendegeya & Tommy Mylnikov, Texas Tech def. Asher Hirsch & Pengxuan Jiang, Illinois 6-2
Jordi Arconada & James Martell, Texas A&M def. Julian Childers & Pablo Landa, Illinois 6-2
