TULSA, Okla. – Illinois men's tennis Hunter Heck and Oliver Okonkwo both secured three wins at the ITA All-Americans Championships from October 1-9 in Tulsa, Okla. hosted by the University of Tulsa.

The ITA All-Americans Championships is a nine day tournament with the best players in college tennis, starting in pre qualifying for some players, while others get an automatic bid to the qualifiers due to rankings. 

Nic Meister got a shot in the pre qualifiers, first beating Ivailo Kermedchi of Oregan, 2-6, 7-6 (7-1), 6-4. In the next round, however, Meister lost to UTSA's Sebastian Rodriguez, 6-2, 6-0 in the next round. 

Alex Petrov also picked up two wins – first over Alex Richards of Wichita State, 6-1, 6-0, then to Julian Steinhausen of Southern Methodist, 6-4, 6-4. 

Okonkwo started in the pre qualifiers and made it all the way through to the qualifiers, first defeating Faris Khan of Duke 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. The graduate student then defeated Jonah Wilson of Arizona State, 7-5, 7-6 (1) and Maxwell Benson of Presbyterian College, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. Okonkwo's bid ended when he fell to Finn Murgett of Auburn, 7-6 (5), 6-3. 

Heck's week started in the qualifiers, as he was 49th at the beginning of the season. The junior started the tournament with a 7-5, 6-2 win over San Diego's Sacchit Sharrma then moved onto beating Will Nolan of Auburn, 6-3, 7-6 (9). His final win was against Herman Hoeyeraal of Arizona, 6-4, 6-3 before bowing out to Ethan Quinn in the Round of 64 main draw. 

Results

Nic Meister (Illinois) def. Ivailo Kermedchiev (Oregan) 2-6, 7-6 (0-1), 6-4
Sebastian Rodriguez (UTSA) def. Nic Meister (Illinois) 6-2, 6-0
Alex Petrov (Illinois) def. Alex Richards (Wichita State) 6-1, 6-0
Alex Petrov (Illinois) def. Julian Steinhausen (Southern Methodist) 6-4, 6-4 Pierce Rollins (Texas A&M) def. Alex Petrov (Illinois) 6-4, 6-4
Oliver Okonkwo (Illinois) def. Faris Khan (Duke) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
Oliver Okonkwo (Illinois) def. Jonah Wilson (Arizona State) 7-5, 7-6 (0-1)
Oliver Okonkwo (Illinois) def. Maxwell Benson (Presbyterian College) 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
Finn Murgett (Auburn) def. Oliver Okonkwo (Illinois) 7-6 (0-5), 6-3
Hunter Heck (Illinois) def. Sacchit Sharrma (San Diego) 7-5, 6-2
Hunter Heck (Illinois) def. Will Nolan (Auburn) 6-3, 7-6 (0-9)
Hunter Heck (Illinois) def. Herman Hoeyeraal (Arizona) 6-4, 6-3
Ethan Quinn (Ohio State) def. Hunter Heck (Illinois) 6-3, 6-1