A singles championship by Jai Vallurupalli highlighted UIC's performances at the River Forest Invitational.  The two-day, clay court event wrapped up Saturday after every Flame tasted victory at least once.

Vallurupalli opened his collegiate career with three straight singles wins to claim the title in the #6 draw.  He was pushed to a third set tiebreaker in the second round, and won a tiebreaker in the second set of the final to put a cap on a 6-4, 7-6 (2) win over Illinois State.

Miroslav Cvjetan in the #1 draw, Kevin Kruzel in the #4 draw, and Artem Iermolov in the #5 draw, each won their first match to advance on the winner's side of the bracket.  None could maintain their momentum through the second round.  Pelle Strandberg, Luiz Dos Santos, and Elliott Dam each won their second singles match after falling in their first.  Gustavo Schwebel lost a third set tiebreaker in his first match in the #4 draw, but won his next two matches to claim fifth place.

In doubles play, Cvjetan and Strandberg teamed up in the #1 draw, and won their first match.  Iermolov and Vallurupalli also won their first match together, in the #2 bracket.  Dos Santos and Schwebel, and Kruzel and Ammar Wazir, both competed in the #3 draw.  Each pair won their first match and lost their second, setting up a Flames vs. Flames showdown in the third place match.  Kruzel and Wazir took a hard-fought, 7-6 (5) win over their teammates.

The entire team will return to action October 7-9 at the Redbird Invitational in Normal.  Meanwhile, the highest rated players will qualify for the ITA All-American Championships starting October 1, and the ITA Regionals starting October 20.