CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- No. 16 Northwestern dropped its Big Ten opener, 4-1, on the road at No. 23 Illinois Friday night, in Champaign, Ill.
The Wildcats clinched the doubles point in dramatic fashion. The 51st ranked duo of Strong Kirchheimer and Dominik Starý took care of business at No. 2 doubles, winning 6-3. Sam Shropshire and Konrad Zieba went to a tiebreak at No. 1, but fell just short 7-4, and lost 7-6. With everything coming down to No. 3 doubles, Chris Ephron and Michael Lorenzini fought off one set point and prevailed in the tiebreak 9-7 to win the doubles point at 7-6.
Illinois took back the lead with wins at No. 1 and No. 4 singles. The 29th ranked Kirchheimer dropped a 6-3, 6-2, decision to No. 28 Aleks Vucic, while Starý lost to Aleks Kovacevic at No. 4, 6-3, 6-3.
The Illini took a 3-1 lead after Ben Vandixhorn fell at No. 5, 7-5, 6-2, to Zeke Clark.
The match ended 4-1 after No. 23 Aaron Hiltzik came back to defeat No. 40 Zieba, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, at No. 2 singles.
Chicago's Ten Team is back in action on Sunday, when it hosts Texas Tech at Combe Tennis Center at 11 a.m.
Singles
No. 1 - #29 Aleks Vucic (ILL) def. #28 Strong Kirchheimer (NU), 6-3, 6-2
No. 2 - #23 Aaron Hiltzik (ILL) def. #40 Konrad Zieba (NU), 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 *
No. 3 Sam Shropshire (NU) vs. Julian Childers (ILL), 6-3, 3-6, 3-2 (unfinished)
No. 4 - Aleks Kovacevic (ILL) def. Dominik Starý (NU), 6-3, 6-3
No. 5 - Zeke Clark (ILL) def. Ben Vandixhorn (ILL), 7-5, 6-2
No. 6 - Jason Seidman (NU) vs. Noe Khlif (ILL), 4-6, 6-3, 0-1 (unfinished.
Order of Finish: 1, 4, 5, 2*
Doubles
No. 1 - Aleks Vucic / Aron Hiltzik (ILL) def. Sam Shropshire / Konrad Zieba (NU), 7-6 (4)
No. 2 - #51 Strong Kirchheimer / Dominik Starý (NU) def. Aleks Kovacevic / Alex Jesee (ILL), 6-3
No. 3 - Chris Ephron / Michael Lorenzini (NU) def. Gui Gomes / Zeke Clark (ILL), 7-6 (7) *
Order of Finish: 2, 1, 3*
The Wildcats clinched the doubles point in dramatic fashion. The 51st ranked duo of Strong Kirchheimer and Dominik Starý took care of business at No. 2 doubles, winning 6-3. Sam Shropshire and Konrad Zieba went to a tiebreak at No. 1, but fell just short 7-4, and lost 7-6. With everything coming down to No. 3 doubles, Chris Ephron and Michael Lorenzini fought off one set point and prevailed in the tiebreak 9-7 to win the doubles point at 7-6.
Illinois took back the lead with wins at No. 1 and No. 4 singles. The 29th ranked Kirchheimer dropped a 6-3, 6-2, decision to No. 28 Aleks Vucic, while Starý lost to Aleks Kovacevic at No. 4, 6-3, 6-3.
The Illini took a 3-1 lead after Ben Vandixhorn fell at No. 5, 7-5, 6-2, to Zeke Clark.
The match ended 4-1 after No. 23 Aaron Hiltzik came back to defeat No. 40 Zieba, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, at No. 2 singles.
Chicago's Ten Team is back in action on Sunday, when it hosts Texas Tech at Combe Tennis Center at 11 a.m.
Singles
No. 1 - #29 Aleks Vucic (ILL) def. #28 Strong Kirchheimer (NU), 6-3, 6-2
No. 2 - #23 Aaron Hiltzik (ILL) def. #40 Konrad Zieba (NU), 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 *
No. 3 Sam Shropshire (NU) vs. Julian Childers (ILL), 6-3, 3-6, 3-2 (unfinished)
No. 4 - Aleks Kovacevic (ILL) def. Dominik Starý (NU), 6-3, 6-3
No. 5 - Zeke Clark (ILL) def. Ben Vandixhorn (ILL), 7-5, 6-2
No. 6 - Jason Seidman (NU) vs. Noe Khlif (ILL), 4-6, 6-3, 0-1 (unfinished.
Order of Finish: 1, 4, 5, 2*
Doubles
No. 1 - Aleks Vucic / Aron Hiltzik (ILL) def. Sam Shropshire / Konrad Zieba (NU), 7-6 (4)
No. 2 - #51 Strong Kirchheimer / Dominik Starý (NU) def. Aleks Kovacevic / Alex Jesee (ILL), 6-3
No. 3 - Chris Ephron / Michael Lorenzini (NU) def. Gui Gomes / Zeke Clark (ILL), 7-6 (7) *
Order of Finish: 2, 1, 3*