Virginia got a last minute warmup for the National Team Indoors by welcoming in No. 17 Illinois for a somewhat rare mid-week match in Charlottesville. Virginia claimed a quick 6-2 win from Luca Corinteli and Carl Soderlund at No. 1 doubles and it looked like Illinois would get a quick win at No. 3 when Zeke Clark and Gui Gomes led 5-2* but Virginia’s Collin Altamirano and JC Aragone came roaring back to win 7-6(4). The match at No. 2 doubles was halted just as the tiebreak was ready to get started.
In singles play, Virginia went up early breaks at No. 2, No. 4, and No. 5 while Illinois went up early breaks at No. 1 and No. 3. Virginia senior Thai-Son Kwaitkowski put up the Cavs first point in singles with a 6-3, 6-0 win over Aron Hiltzik at No. 2 and JC Aragone followed shortly thereafter with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Julian Childers at No. 4. Virginia junior Henrik Wiersholm would get the clincher at No. 6 after he reeled off the final nine games of the match to defeat Zeke Clark 6-4, 6-0.
They played the rest of the matches out and Virginia junior Alexander Ritschard would make it 5-0 with a 7-6(1), 6-3 win over Aleks Kovacevic at No. 5. Illinois junior Aleks Vukic gave the Illini its lone point with a 7-6(1), 6-3 win over Collin Altamirano at No. 1 but Virginia freshman Carl Soderlund would close out the evening with a 7-6(5), 5-7, 1-0(9) win at No. 3. Soderlund trailed 5-2 in the first set of his match as well.
Singles competition
1. #31 Aleks Vukic (ILL) def. Collin Altamirano (VA) 7-6 (7-1), 6-3
2. #28 Thai-Son Kwiatkowski (VA) def. #21 Aron Hiltzik (ILL) 6-3, 6-0
3. Carl Soderlund (VA) def. Gui Gomes (ILL) 7-6 (7-5), 5-7, 1-0 (11-9)
4. #64 J.C. Aragone (VA) def. Julian Childers (ILL) 6-1, 6-4
5. Alexander Ritschard (VA) def. #123 Aleks Kovacevic (ILL) 7-6 (7-1), 6-3
6. Henrik Wiersholm (VA) def. Zeke Clark (ILL) 6-4, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. #55 Luca Corinteli/Carl Soderlund (VA) def. Aron Hiltzik/Aleks Vukic (ILL) 6-2
2. Thai-Son Kwiatkowski/Alexander Ritschard (VA) vs. Alex Jesse/Aleks Kovacevic (ILL) 6-6, unfinished
3. Collin Altamirano/J.C. Aragone (VA) def. Zeke Clark/Gui Gomes (ILL) 7-6 (7-4)
T-2:53 A-307
Post-Match Quotes from Virginia’s recap
“It was a match that I believe we needed going into indoors as it showed us some things that we still need to work on to prepare for Friday and National Indoors,” said Virginia head coach Brian Boland. “Overall, it was a good performance against an outstanding Illinois team. It was great to get the doubles point, and we really had to work hard to do it. I was really pleased with Carl Söderlund who didn’t play his best tennis today, but was extremely gritty and found a way to compete in difficult circumstances. I know it is only a matter of time before he plays at a higher level. He is one of the toughest competitors I have ever seen as a freshman. I am really proud of what he has already brought to the program. Today was a tough day for him, but at the same time, he finds a way, which speaks volumes about the level of competitor and character that he is. I couldn’t be more pleased. Collin [Altamirano] continues to fight. He was right there in the first set [at No. 1 singles] and then it got away from him. I know he is getting better with each day and he will be ready to play this weekend.”
Post-Match Quotes from head coach Brad Dancer via Illinois’s recap
“Virginia is a great team. They have loads of talent and are well coached. I’m a bit disappointed in the overall package in today’s match. We always talk about culture and the process of improving and progress. I felt we took a small step back in defining ourselves. I’m recognizing preparation errors on my part and there is no excuse for that. I need to be better as a coach. We have great players and we have to grow.”
Earlier in the day Illinois defeated William & Mary 4-0 in a match that was played in Charlottesville. The Illini took the doubles point and picked up wins from Gui Gomes, leks Kovacevic, and Vuk Budic.
Singles competition
2. Gui Gomes (Illinois) def. Christian Cargill (W&M) 6-3, 7-5
3. Addison Appleby (W&M) vs. Noe Khlif (Illinois) 6-3, 2-6, 2-2, unf.
4. #123 Aleks Kovacevic (Illinois) def. Alec Miller (W&M) 6-3, 6-3
5. Damon Niquet (W&M) vs. Zeke Clark (Illinois) 6-4, 5-4, unf.
6. Vuk Budic (Illinois) def. Tristan Bautil (W&M) 6-2, 6-2
2. Kovacevic/Jesse (Illinois) def. Appleby/Bautil (W&M) 6-3
3. Cargill/Miller (W&M) vs. Gomes/Clark (Illinois) 5-4, unf.
- Auburn women’s head coach Lauren Spencer picked up her 200th career win as the 14th ranked Tigers swept a doubleheader over Alabama A&M and Troy.
- #4 Stanford coasted past San Jose State 7-0 with the Cardinal winning all 12 sets in singles. The only surprise was that Stanford lost 6-0 at No. 1 doubles.
- Louisville’s men’s team posted a pair of 7-0 shutouts over Austin Peay and Illinois State – Rex Ecarma’s team won all 22 sets in singles (ISU only had 5 players available). Here is his post-match interview after the APSU match and ISU match.
[8] UCLA vs. [9] USC
[5] North Carolina vs. [12] Georgia
[4] California vs. [13] Baylor
[6] Northwestern vs. [11] Oklahoma State
[2] Wake Forest vs. [15] Mississippi State
[8] UCLA vs. [9] USC – 6:30 p.m.
I think the bottom half of the draw is much stronger and more interesting. Think Oklahoma's experience will make their match with the Buckeyes very interesting but, they need a Harris win at 1 which is a tall order against Torp. Also, the Texas-Florida match is very compelling. Let's see if Florida staying in Charlottesville for the whole week gives them an edge against a fairly young Texas squad.