CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Senior Alafia Ayeni pushed returning All-American Johannus Monday on Tennessee to three sets but ultimately fell 7-5, 4-6, 6-2 on Monday afternoon at the Khan Outdoor Tennis Complex. Ayeni will return to action on Tuesday morning along with doubles team partner Vladislav Melnic.

Ayeni, a first-team All-Ivy selection in both singles and doubles, pushed the seeded Monday to the limit after claiming a 6-4 win in the second set, shaking off a narrow 7-5 defeat in the opener. The 2021 ITA National Rookie of the Year posted a pair of breaks to open the deciding set and take a 3-0 lead, and Ayeni couldn't scratch back tp close his season at 19-7. Monday improved to 26-8 and advances into the second round.

Ayeni and Melnic kick off doubles competition on Tuesday when they face David Stevenson and Jeremy Taylor of Memphis. With a win, Ayeni and Melnic would head to the Round of 16 on Wednesday against the winner of third-seeded Jake Finn Bass and Svewn Lah of Baylor or Jordan Chrysostom and Ryan Fishback of Virginia Tech.