Hiltzik named Tennis Athlete of the Week
Updated: March 6, 2013
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (UI Release)
- After earning a 3-0 record in singles competition this past week that
included wins over two ranked opponents, Jared Hiltzik was named Big
Ten Tennis Athlete of the Week. The honor
is the freshman's first weekly recognition in his young and promising
career at Illinois.
Hiltzik helped
spur the Illini to a 3-1 record over the past five days, which included a
2-0 start in Big Ten play. First, the Illini shut out Iowa 7-0 before
defeating #20 Northwestern 5-2 to finish out
the weekend. Then, the Orange and Blue traveled to South Bend, Ind., on
Tuesday, where they split the double-header by recording their second
shutout of the week in a 4-0 win over Illinois State but came up short
against No. 27 Notre Dame, 4-1.
Hiltzik thus
started his week by defeating Iowa's Jonas Dierckx 6-2, 6-2. Then, the
freshman emerged triumphant over No. 120 Spencer Wolf of Northwestern,
6-3, 6-4. Next, Hiltzik's match went unfinished
against Illinois State before he delivered the lone point for the Illini
against Notre Dame, when he defeated No. 97 Greg Andrews 6-4, 6-4. The
Wilmette native also picked up a doubles victory this week along with
Stephen Hoh, as the duo downed Iowa's Juan
Estenssoro and Joey White, 8-3.
Hiltzik started
the season ranked No. 114 amongst all Division-I NCAA tennis players.
Since, Hiltzik has climbed 76 spots to No. 37, as his team has jumped to
No. 13, their highest this season. Hiltzik
and the rest of the Fighting Illini return to action March 17 & 18
when they welcome Virginia and USC.
