University of North Carolina Athletics
Sixth-Ranked Tar Heels Face No. 8 Illinois On Saturday
January 31, 2015 | Men's Tennis
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – In a matchup of top-10 teams, the sixth-ranked North Carolina men's tennis team is set to square off against No. 8 Illinois on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Atkins Tennis Center in Champaign, Ill.
The Tar Heels head into Saturday's match with a perfect 6-0 record. Last weekend, Carolina earned wins against No. 44 Oregon and No. 38 Virginia Tech to clinch a berth to the ITA National Team Indoor Championship, which will be held at Midtown Athletic Club in Chicago, Ill. Feb. 13-16.
North Carolina head coach Sam Paul has gotten solid play from all six singles spots to-date. At the top of the lineup, the Tar Heels feature a duo of sophomores ranked in the nation's top-30 in Brayden Schnur (No. 2) and Ronnie Schneider (No. 27). Senior Oystein Steiro has also provided valuable contributions at the back end of Carolina's lineup and currently boasts a 6-0 record this spring.
If there is one thing that eighth-ranked Illinois lacks, it certainly is not depth. The Fighting Illini feature four ranked singles players in Jared Hiltzik (No. 31), Tim Kopinski (No. 40), Aleks Vukic (No. 44) and Aron Hiltzik (No. 62).
Last season, the Tar Heels upended then-19th-ranked Illinois 5-2 at Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center.
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