University of Minnesota Athletics
Saturday, April 20
Minneapolis, MN
12:00 PM
University of Minnesota
2
vs
5
University of Illinois
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
3,2
#1 Singles Match
12
Aleks Kovacevic / 0 [UI]
76
64
#2 Singles Match
123
Alex Brown / 0 [UI]
637
466
#3 Singles Match
12
Zeke Clark / 0 [UI]
66
33
#4 Singles Match
123
Siphosothando Montsi / 0 [UI]
647
465
#5 Singles Match
12
Noe Khlif / 0 [UI]
32
66
#6 Singles Match
12
Vuk Budic / 0 [UI]
66
11
Order of Finish:
6,5,3,1,4,2
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
Photo by: Christopher Mitchell
Gophers Fall 5-2 to No. 15 Fighting Illini
4/20/2019 4:51:00 PM | Men's Tennis
MINNEAPOLIS - The University of Minnesota Men's Tennis Team lost 5-2 to No. 15 Illinois Saturday. Minnesota got off to a hot start earning the doubles point, but couldn't pull it together in singles, with Vlad Lobak earning the lone singles point.
DOUBLES
Minnesota came out the gates running with strong play in doubles. Some new pairings hit the court, as Vlad Lobak and Marino Alpeza played together for the first time this season, winning 6-3 in No. 3 doubles. The reliable pairing of Jackson Allen and Eli Ogilvy then won in No. 2 doubles. Josip Krstanovic teamed up with Stefan Milicevic for the first time all spring, and were all tied up 5-5 with Aleks Kovacevic and Alex Brown in in No. 1 doubles upon clinching the doubles point.
SINGLES
Minnesota struggle to find strong play in singles, losing five of the six singles matches. Eli Ogilvy lost 6-1, 6-1 in No. 6 singles, followed up by a clean win from Vlad Lobak in the five spot, winning 6-3, 6-2. After that, the match was controlled by the Fighting Ilini. Marino Alpeza lost 6-3, 6-3 in No. 3 singles, while Josip Krstanovic lost a tough match to No. 8 Aleks Kovacevic in No. 1 singles. With the score at 3-2 in favor of Illinois, Minnesota had their chances with both Stefan Milicevic and Jackson Allen playing deep into a third set. Up 5-2 in the third and final set, Allen eventually lost 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 in No. 4 singles. Milicevic trailed 5-0 in his final set before he mounted an impressive comeback, but eventually he too fell, losing 6-4, 3-6, 7-6.
THE SPIN
Minnesota tried out some new pairings in doubles and they looked good. While two of the pairings had never seen a match together, clearly the chemistry from practice carried over to results on the court. On the other hand, singles didn't go as planned, but Illinois is a very talented team, and Minnesota put themselves in positions to win the match. Notably, the experience playing outside, Minnesota's first outdoor home dual since 2017, will be huge going into Big Ten Tournament play. A few wins in the tournament would likely solidify a berth in the NCAA Tournament, and allow Minnesota to extend their season.
UP NEXT
Minnesota will take on Northwestern Sunday at 2 pm for Senior Day. Seniors Marino Alpeza, Josip Krstanovic, Jesse Sprinkel and Justin Levin will be honored at the match.
Illinois 5, Minnesota 2
Singles competition
1. Aleks Kovacevic (UI) def. Josip Krstanovic (MINN) 7-6, 6-4
2. Alex Brown (UI) def. Stefan Milicevic (MINN) 6-4, 3-6, 7-6
3. Zeke Clark (UI) def. Marino Alpeza (MINN) 6-3, 6-3
4. Siphosothando Montsi (UI) def. Jackson Allen (MINN) 6-4, 4-6, 7-5
5. Vlad Lobak (MINN) def. Noe Khlif (UI) 6-3, 6-2
6. Vuk Budic (UI) def. Eli Ogilvy (MINN) 6-1, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Aleks Kovacevic/Alex Brown (UI) vs. Josip Krstanovic/Stefan Milicevic (MINN) 5-5
2. Eli Ogilvy/Jackson Allen (MINN) def. Vuk Budic/Gui Gomes (UI) 6-2
3. Vlad Lobak/Marino Alpeza (MINN) def. Noe Khlif/Zeke Clark (UI) 6-3
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (6,5,3,1,4,2)
DOUBLES
Minnesota came out the gates running with strong play in doubles. Some new pairings hit the court, as Vlad Lobak and Marino Alpeza played together for the first time this season, winning 6-3 in No. 3 doubles. The reliable pairing of Jackson Allen and Eli Ogilvy then won in No. 2 doubles. Josip Krstanovic teamed up with Stefan Milicevic for the first time all spring, and were all tied up 5-5 with Aleks Kovacevic and Alex Brown in in No. 1 doubles upon clinching the doubles point.
SINGLES
Minnesota struggle to find strong play in singles, losing five of the six singles matches. Eli Ogilvy lost 6-1, 6-1 in No. 6 singles, followed up by a clean win from Vlad Lobak in the five spot, winning 6-3, 6-2. After that, the match was controlled by the Fighting Ilini. Marino Alpeza lost 6-3, 6-3 in No. 3 singles, while Josip Krstanovic lost a tough match to No. 8 Aleks Kovacevic in No. 1 singles. With the score at 3-2 in favor of Illinois, Minnesota had their chances with both Stefan Milicevic and Jackson Allen playing deep into a third set. Up 5-2 in the third and final set, Allen eventually lost 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 in No. 4 singles. Milicevic trailed 5-0 in his final set before he mounted an impressive comeback, but eventually he too fell, losing 6-4, 3-6, 7-6.
THE SPIN
Minnesota tried out some new pairings in doubles and they looked good. While two of the pairings had never seen a match together, clearly the chemistry from practice carried over to results on the court. On the other hand, singles didn't go as planned, but Illinois is a very talented team, and Minnesota put themselves in positions to win the match. Notably, the experience playing outside, Minnesota's first outdoor home dual since 2017, will be huge going into Big Ten Tournament play. A few wins in the tournament would likely solidify a berth in the NCAA Tournament, and allow Minnesota to extend their season.
UP NEXT
Minnesota will take on Northwestern Sunday at 2 pm for Senior Day. Seniors Marino Alpeza, Josip Krstanovic, Jesse Sprinkel and Justin Levin will be honored at the match.
Illinois 5, Minnesota 2
Singles competition
1. Aleks Kovacevic (UI) def. Josip Krstanovic (MINN) 7-6, 6-4
2. Alex Brown (UI) def. Stefan Milicevic (MINN) 6-4, 3-6, 7-6
3. Zeke Clark (UI) def. Marino Alpeza (MINN) 6-3, 6-3
4. Siphosothando Montsi (UI) def. Jackson Allen (MINN) 6-4, 4-6, 7-5
5. Vlad Lobak (MINN) def. Noe Khlif (UI) 6-3, 6-2
6. Vuk Budic (UI) def. Eli Ogilvy (MINN) 6-1, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Aleks Kovacevic/Alex Brown (UI) vs. Josip Krstanovic/Stefan Milicevic (MINN) 5-5
2. Eli Ogilvy/Jackson Allen (MINN) def. Vuk Budic/Gui Gomes (UI) 6-2
3. Vlad Lobak/Marino Alpeza (MINN) def. Noe Khlif/Zeke Clark (UI) 6-3
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (6,5,3,1,4,2)
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