URBANA, Ill. – Fighting Illini junior Aleks Vukic was named the Big Ten Tennis Player of the Week, the league office announced on Tuesday afternoon. Vukic is coming off a perfect 6-0 record in Illinois's four matches last week. The honor is the second for the Illini this season and sixth of Vukic's career.
The Illini junior earned three singles victories last week, including back-to-back wins over ITA-ranked opponents on Friday. The Sydney, Australia native defeated Texas Tech's No. 54-ranked Jolan Cailleau 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 and Northwestern's No. 28-ranked Strong Kirchheimer, 6-3, 6-2. Vukic is currently on an eight-match winning streak in singles with a 9-1 dual match record this season.
Since teaming up with fellow-junior Aron Hiltzik, the duo is 6-1 in dual matches. The duo went 3-0 last week with wins at the No. 1 position against Ball State, Texas Tech and Northwestern. Hiltzik and Vukic clinched the doubles point against Texas Tech on Friday afternoon. The pair is currently on a five-match winning streak and climbed into the most recent ITA rankings at No. 47.
The honor is the second of the season for Vukic and third for the Illini men's tennis team. The Illinois junior is one of two Big Ten tennis athletes to earn the honor twice this season.
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