The No. 30 Badgers (13-3, 3-2 Big Ten) dropped both conference matches this weekend against highly-ranked competition, but the young team picked up valuable experience along the way. 

"I think we played better today than we did at Northwestern, which is definitely a positive," said head coach Danny Westerman. "There is still room for this team to improve and if we're going to get to the next level, we need to be a bit better in the moments that we can control."

UW lost its footing early on, as the Fighting Illini dispatched the Badgers in doubles play. Sophomores Josef Dodridge and Lamar Remy fell at the No. 1 spot to Aron Hiltzik and Aleks Vukic, 6-2. Illinois claimed the overall doubles point with a win at the No. 2 position, as Aiden Jiang and Jared Hiltzik took down sophomore Chema Carranza and senior Jakhongir Jalalov, 6-4. 

In singles play, Josef Dodridge fell to Aleks Vukic at the No. 1 slot, 6-2, 6-1. Senior Alexander Kokorev was then defeated by Jared Hiltzik, 6-4, 6-1, at the No. 2 position. 

On court five, the Illini's Julian Childers took down freshman Osgar O'Hoisin, 6-4, 6-3, to clinch the fourth point for Illinois and secure the overall match. 

Despite back-to-back losses, the Badgers are looking to rebound as they return to Madison for a stretch of home matches in the upcoming weeks. UW will host Michigan State on Friday, April 8, with match time set for 6 p.m. (CT). On Sunday, April 10, the Badgers will host No. 20 Michigan at noon. Both matches are free to the public. 

1. Aleks Vukic (ILL) def. Josef Dodridge (UW), 6-2, 6-1

2. Jared Hiltzik (ILL) def. Alexander Kokorev (UW), 6-4, 6-1

3. Aron Hiltzik (ILL) vs. Lamar Remy (UW), 6-4, 5-6, unfinished

4. Julian Childers (UW) def. Osgar O'Hoisin (UW), 6-4, 6-3

5. Asher Hirsch (ILL) vs. Chema Carranza (UW), 3-6, 6-1, 2-2, unfinished

6. Brian Page (ILL) vs. John Zordani (UW), 4-6, 6-1, 0-1, unfinished

1. A. Hiltzik/Vukic (ILL) def. Dodridge/Remy (UW), 6-2

2. Jiang/J. Hiltzik (ILL) def. Carranza/Jalalov (UW), 6-4

3. Childers/Page (ILL) vs. Mackenzie/Zordani (UW), 4-4, unfinished