Illini lose @ Northwestern 4-3. First time the Cats have beaten us since 1997. 
2016 Illini Tennis
Mike
C-U Townie
Illini lose @ Northwestern 4-3. First time the Cats have beaten us since 1997.
Rats.
Used to "practice" on a D1 tennis team as a walk on a long time ago. I should probably follow illini tennis until basketball season to save my sanity.
Illini lose @ Northwestern 4-3. First time the Cats have beaten us since 1997.
Ugh. Chalk it up as a character-builder.
It's past time for me to start paying attention again. For example, I had no idea that the guys beat a team that had just recently been #1!
Either their results or the rankings look a bit inconsistent as they head into the last third of the season, but that's okay. There's plenty of potential left. Closing out with Muck-PSU-tOSU, though... an intense week of tennis there!
The Illini have a very top heavy lineup. Jared Hiltzik and Aleks Vukic are both top 10 players and Aron Hiltzik is a solid guy at #3. But the bottom half of the lineup is really inconsistent/weak and that's hurt against the better teams. Dancer shook up the doubles lineup and we've won that point 3 times in a row. If we can win that doubles point then we're in much better shape because we're not going to win at 5/6 singles against good teams too often. It was good to see Brian Page get a win at #6 vs Purdue yesterday.
Article on the 2016 tennis recruiting class. Some much needed talent on the way for Dancer.
ilphotog
The camera never lies
- Champaign
Purdue hasn't been very good for a long time,but their #1 and #2's were really good (at least yesterday) Jared and Vuk had their hands full. The were outside for the first time at home, decent day, but the wind pick up during singles and caused some issues from time to time. Brian played really well yesterday, but you hit the nail on the head about 4,5,6.
photog, any idea why Matsuya doesn't play? Is he red shirting? Seems like he played decently last year and could win some of those matches at 5/6.
ilphotog
The camera never lies
- Champaign
I'll ask, haven't seen him play all year. Matter of fact, not sure I've seen him lately.
Illini are the #15 seed in the NCAA tournament and will host a regional. They'll play W Michigan and then (hopefully) the winner of Miss St/Memphis. If they advance to the finals then they'd likely face a rematch vs UNC.
illinifaninwi
- DeForest, Wisconsin
I had higher expectations for this team but it turned out to be singles top-heavy and below average doubles play - a constant during the Dancer years.
It's a shame a team with 2 studs like Hiltzik and Vukic didn't have a little more help, could have been a really good season. Still wondering what happened with Matsuya, he had a decent record at 5/6 last year. I figured he might be red shirting, but then he played vs PSU?
Probably a coin flip if they can beat MSU to make it to the finals. Playing at home will help. Doubtful they advance beyond that, though.
Welp. It wasn't meant to be this year. Strong showing by MissSt in a wind that Illinois is probably more used to.
I wish I'd followed the team more consistently this season - they didn't meet their potential, but they more than deserved it. Maybe next year. Go Illini!
I wish I'd followed the team more consistently this season - they didn't meet their potential, but they more than deserved it. Maybe next year. Go Illini!
Disappointing end to the season, but they weren't going much further than the next round anyway.
MoCoMdIllini
- Montgomery County, Maryland
Aleks Vukic falls to Joao Monteiro of VT in the Quarter Finals.
Was up two breaks at 3-0 in the third set and 5-3 serving for the match against a player ranked ten-spots lower and couldn't close it out.
Hiltzik was in control of his round of 16 match, 6-4, 4-1, but fell apart to a lower-ranked player also.
Disappointing end to a disappointing season.
ilphotog
The camera never lies
- Champaign
Throwing this in here about the Women's team, I haven't heard anything about Evan's status for next year, has anyone? Also I haven't seen anything about any recruits for next year. We basically have everyone back, so if nothing else they should ( if healthy) have a good chance to make the tournament. It's odd that no decision has been made yet, or if it has I haven't heard. Same with recruiting, maybe they have 1 or 2 that haven't been announced. But if not, that will basically be the 2nd time in 5 years without a true recruited class. Anyone hear anything?
Illini junior-to-be Aron Hiltzik will play in this summer's Ursula Beck Pro Tennis Classic in Decatur: http://www.wandtv.com/story/3215109...ld-card-bid-to-ursula-beck-pro-tennis-classic
The tournament runs July 30-August 7.
The tournament runs July 30-August 7.
For those of you following the players over the summer/into pro careers, Jared Hiltzik is playing in tomorrow's finals of the Wichita Tennis Open. It's always nice to catch Illini and former Illini in town, and I've been able to catch 3 of his 4 matches and will definitely be there tomorrow. Aron was here in the tournament too, but unfortunately bowed out in his first round match on Wednesday.
If there are six returning players, which two are leaving?
I think Matsuya only played in 1 match, so I'd guess he's one. Landa didn't play much either. Jesse seemed to be injured a lot, another possibility I suppose.
They just posted the new roster and it looks like the two players who left are Toshiki Matsuya and Pengxuan Jiang.
Let's hope Dancer can find some capable doubles teams from all these new guys....
Jiang is back!