TCU
#4 Illinois
Horned Frogs Upset No. 4 Illinois
3/16/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Final Stats | Photo Gallery 
FORT WORTH, Texas -- The No. 17 TCU men's tennis team picked up its biggest win in the David Roditi era and second top-10 win of the season with a 4-0 victory over No. 4 Illinois at the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center on Monday afternoon.
With the win against the Illini (15-3), who beat nationally ranked Texas and Texas A&M on the road last week, the Frogs improve to 11-5. It was the second time in as many days that the Frogs defeated a member of the Big Ten, with TCU topping Michigan, 5-0, on Sunday.
"It was fun to get this big win at home," Roditi said. "Our seniors stepped up. Facundo Lugones and Arnau Dachs, and the little beast Guillermo Nunez continue to play at a really high level. That really helped the other guys stay calm. Will Stein is also playing great tennis and he was up a break late in the second set against a guy that's hardly lost."
Roditi said winning the doubles point was a big factor for the Frogs.
"That doubles point was huge," Roditi said. "We finally won a doubles point over a top program."
No. 23 Trevor Johnson and Cameron Norrie got TCU on the board first with a 6-1 victory over Blake Bazarnik and Brian Page. The senior duo and No. 29 ranked Nick Chappell and Stein wrapped up the doubles point for the Frogs with a 6-3 win over Jared Hiltzik and Tim Kopinski on court one for the pairs' team-leading 18th win this season.
"Our No. 1 and No. 2 doubles team came out and set the tone," Roditi said. "They were up two breaks right from the beginning."
The momentum carried over into singles play as the Frogs reeled off three straight wins to capture the match.
Playing at No. 2 singles for the first time this season No. 116 Nunez dispatched No. 32 Kopinski, 6-2, 6-0, for the freshman's 15th straight victory this season and 18th overall.
Seniors Dachs and Lugones would finish moments later as Dachs stopped Bazarnik, 6-3, 6-1, on court five before Lugones closed out the match with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Toshiki Matsuya at No. 6 singles.
"We beat a very, very good team that competes really well," Roditio said. "We had a full week of outdoor weather where we could practice. That helped so we could play at this level. (Assistant coach) Devin Bowen has been all about preparation all year long, and he prepared them for this."
The Frogs are back in action on the Bernard J. "Tut" Varsity Courts on Friday, March 20 at 5:30 when they host Louisiana-Lafayette. TCU will continue action on Saturday at home, as the Frogs welcome Dartmouth and UT Arlington for a double header at 1 p.m., and 5 p.m., respectively.
Tennis Match Results
Illinois vs TCU
Mar 16, 2015 at Fort Worth, Texas
(Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center)
#17 TCU 4, #4 Illinois 0
Singles competition
1. #39 Nick Chappell (TCU) vs. #18 Jared Hiltzik (ILL) 5-7, 1-1, unfinished
2. #116 Guillermo NuÒez (TCU) def. #32 Tim Kopinski (ILL) 6-2, 6-0
3. #31 Cameron Norrie (TCU) vs. #49 Aleks Vukic (ILL) 5-7, 2-2, unfinished
4. Will Stein (TCU) vs. #76 Aron Hiltzik (ILL) 6-4, 4-2, unfinished
5. Arnau Dachs (TCU) def. Blake Bazarnik (ILL) 6-3, 6-1
6. Facundo Lugones (TCU) def. Toshiki Matsuya (ILL) 6-1, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. #29 Nick Chappell/Will Stein (TCU) def. Jared Hiltzik/Tim Kopinski (ILL) 6-3
2. #23 Trevor Johnson/Cameron Norrie (TCU) def. Blake Bazarnik/Brian Page (ILL) 6-1
3. Hudson Blake/Guillermo NuÒez (TCU) vs. Ross Guignon/Aron Hiltzik (ILL) 3-4, unfinished
Match Notes:
Illinois 15-3, 3-0; National ranking #4
TCU 11-5, 0-1; National ranking #17
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (2,5,6)
A-345
Players Mentioned
