First Serve: Illini Conclude Regular Season at the Atkins Tennis Center       

The Illinois Fighting Illini will conclude the 2017 regular season this weekend at the Atkins Tennis Center. Illinois will host the Penn State Nittany Lions on Friday at 3:00 p.m. CT. Free pizza and rally towels will be available to the first 300 fans. On Sunday, the Illini will face the No. 2-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes at 12:00 p.m. The match will also mark Senior Day, where the Orange and Blue will celebrate the careers of Julian Childers and Alex Jesse. Ohio State boasts a singles lineup with four ranked players, highlighted by the No. 1-ranked player in the nation, Mikael Torpegaard. 

Last Time Out: Illini Earn Two B1G Wins in Michigan 

Illinois won two road matches in the State of Michigan last weekend. On Saturday, UI earned a gritty win against the No. 14 Michigan Wolverines behind strong singles play from Aleks Vukic, Aron Hiltzik, Aleks Kovacevic and Noe Khlif. The next day, the Illini swept the Michigan State Spartans, 7-0. Illinois grabbed the doubles point for the fifth time in six matches and then Hiltzik and five freshmen topped all six of the Spartan singles players. 

Vukic Earns Program-Best Fourth B1G Weekly Tennis Honor 

Fighting Illini junior Aleks Vukic was named the B1G Tennis Player of the Week for the fourth time this season on April 11. The Sydney, Australia native earned the award after completing a perfect 4-0 weekend, where Illinois earned two victories over B1G opponents. Vukic is currently riding a 15 match winning streak, good for the fifth-longest streak in program history. The four weekly honors is the most an Illini has earned in a single season in program history. 

Freshmen Figuring it Out 

With six freshmen making up over half of the Illinois roster, the class has been a staple in the Illini lineup this season. In five matches, UI has used five freshmen and one upperclassman in singles. Of late, freshman Noe Khlif is on a six match winning streak and Aleks Kovacevic is riding a five match winning streak. 

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