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URBANA, Ill. – The No. 15 Fighting Illini men's tennis team will host three matches in three days this weekend. On Friday, April 1, the Orange and Blue will welcome Minnesota at 3 p.m. UI will also face Wisconsin and Ball State at Atkins Tennis Center on Sunday, April 3. The Illini take on the Badgers at 2 p.m., followed by a 6 p.m. match against the Cardinals.
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The Illini currently hold a 10-7 record on the season, following wins over Indiana and Purdue a week ago. The two victories were the first two conference wins on the season, as Illinois currently sits at 2-1 in Big Ten play.
Scouting Minnesota
The Golden Gophers enter the weekend with a 6-11 record, including an 0-3 mark in conference play. Most recently, Minnesota fell to Nebraska (5-2) and Iowa (4-1). The Gophers defeated the Illini 4-3 last April in Minneapolis. Minnesota currently sports the No. 23 ranked doubles pair of Matic Spec and Felix Corwin.
Scouting Wisconsin
The Badgers currently carry an impressive 13-1 record. Wisconsin's lone defeat of the season came against No. 2 TCU. The team also holds a 2-0 record in league play with wins over Nebraska and Iowa a week ago. The Illini defeated Wisconsin 4-0 in the Big Ten regular season finale last season. The Badgers do not have anyone ranked in singles or doubles.
Scouting Ball State
Ball State enters the weekend having lost two straight matches to drop their record to 6-9 on the season. The Cardinals have picked up victories over Butler and Toledo since the beginning of March and will travel to take on Northern Illinois on April 2, prior to their match with the Illini. Ball State does not have anyone ranked in singles or doubles.
Illini In The Rankings
Illinois sits at No. 15 in the most recent ITA national rankings. UI remains one of two teams in the country with two singles players currently ranked in the top-10 nationally, highlighted by No. 4 Aleks Vukic and No. 10 Jared Hiltzik. Sophomore Aron Hiltzik is also ranked No. 59.
Illini Duo Garners B1G Honors
Senior Jared Hiltzik was named Big Ten Tennis Athlete of the Week on Tuesday, March 1, as announced by the league office. Hiltzik went 3-0 over the stretch, helping the Orange and Blue knock off No. 2 Virginia at home. The honor is the first for Hiltzik this season and sixth of his career. It marks the third time this season an Illini men's tennis player has received the award, as sophomore Aleks Vukic has garnered the laurel twice this season. Vukic received the award on Jan. 26 and Feb. 16.
