UCLA
Illinois
UCLA Advances to ITA Indoors Quarters
February 16, 2018 | Men's Tennis
SEATTLE โ The No. 7 UCLA men's tennis team advanced to the quarterfinal round of the ITA Team Indoor Championships Friday with a 4-2 win over No. 10 Illinois at the Seattle Tennis Club. The Bruins move on to face No. 2 Ohio State Saturday at noon in the same location.
No. 1 Martin Redlicki provided the clinching point with a three-set win over No. 46 Aleks Vukic on the top court.
Redlicki got things started alongside Evan Zhu, as the pair notched the first doubles win of the day with a 6-3 decision over Aron Hiltzik and Vukic of the Fighting Illini on Court 1. With Court 2 locked in a close one, Bruins Maxime Cressy and Bryce Pereira clinched the initial point of the day with a 6-4 victory over Alex Brown and Caleb Chakravarthi on Court 3.
Illinois quickly pulled even in singles play, as Zeke Clark dealt No. 58 Logan Staggs of UCLA his first loss of the dual-match season, 6-2, 6-4. Keegan Smith and Alex Brown went to a first-set tiebreaker on Court 2, which Bruin Smith took by a narrow 10-8 margin for a 2-1 lead. Fellow freshman Connor Hance also came up big in his Indoors debut, knocking off Chakravarthi on Court 6, 6-3 , 7-5.
The Illini would not go away, as nationally-ranked Aron Hiltzik (No. 69) defeated Evan Zhu in straight sets, 6-3, 7-5. Redlicki picked up the first set on Court 1, 6-4, before Vukic countered in the second, 6-2. With Cressy locked in his second tiebreak of the day on Court 5, the nation's top player prevailed on Court 1, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3.
The Bruins move on to face the No. 2 Buckeyes, who blanked No. 20 Duke, 4-0, in another first-round match Friday.
Tennis Match Results
Illinois vs UCLA
Feb 16, 2018 at Seattle, Wash.
(Seattle Tennis Club)
UCLA 4, Illinois 2
Singles competition
1. #1 Martin Redlicki (UCLA) def. #46 Aleks Vukic (ILL) 6-4, 2-6, 6-3
2. #69 Aron Hiltzik (ILL) def. Evan Zhu (UCLA) 6-3, 7-5
3. #107 Keegan Smith (UCLA) def. Alex Brown (ILL) 7-6(8), 6-3
4. Zeke Clark (ILL) def. #58 Logan Staggs (UCLA) 6-2, 6-4
5. Maxime Cressy (UCLA) vs. Aleks Kovacevic (ILL) 6-3, 6-7(2), 6-6, unfinished
6. Connor Hance (UCLA) def. Caleb Chakravarthi (ILL) 6-3, 7-5
Doubles competition
1. Martin Redlicki/Evan Zhu (UCLA) def. #40 Aron Hiltzik/Aleks Vukic (ILL) 6-3
2. Austin Rapp/Keegan Smith (UCLA) vs. Zeke Clark/Aleks Kovacevic (ILL) 5-4, unfinished
3. Maxime Cressy/Bryce Pereira (UCLA) def. Alex Brown/Caleb Chakravarthi (ILL) 6-4
Match Notes:
Illinois 4-3
UCLA 9-1
Order of Finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (4,3,6,2,1)
Players Mentioned
