University of Illinois
Illinois State
Illini Dominate Doubleheader; Sweep UIC, ISU
February 8, 2009 | Women's Tennis
Feb. 8, 2009
Complete Results
URBANA, Ill. - The No. 36 Illinois women's tennis team completed the weekend sweep downing UIC and Illinois State in a rare doubleheader today at the Atkins Tennis Center. With both 7-0 wins, the Illini improve to 5-2 on the season.
"Anytime we can go out and sweep three matches in a weekend, our girls definitely gain a huge amount of confidence," head coach Michelle Dasso said. "We had a couple close matches, but we were able to come out and get it done in all positions. We were able to rest a couple girls in the lineup and still be confident we could get the job done. Our depth was a huge factor for us today and credit to our girls for practicing hard and being ready to step in the lineup when needed."
In the morning match against the UIC Flames, the Illini came out fired up in doubles, extinguishing the Flames at Nos. 1 and 3 doubles to take an early 1-0 advantage heading into singles.
In singles, the Flames were no match for the Illini, as all six Illini won straight sets victories over their opponents. Redshirt-sophomore Leigh Finnegan got the ball rolling as she downed UIC's Ilinca Cristescu 6-2, 6-0, at No. 1 singles. In her first dual match of the season, sophomore Annie McCarthy wasted no time in taking care of her opponent Ulrikke von Ubisch (UIC), 6-1, 6-2, at the No. 6 slot. The match-clinching win came at No. 4 singles as Illinois junior Kristina Minor took a 6-1, 6-1 victory over UIC's Jenna Reisch.
Illinois completed the sweep collecting wins at Nos. 2, 5, and 3.
In the afternoon match against the Illinois State Redbirds, the Orange and Blue kept the momentum going as they rolled through doubles, taking the always important doubles point for the third match in a row. The Illini duo of Shivani Davé and Kristina Minor clinched the doubles point for Illinois as they downed ISU's Carmen Peters and Hannah Esker, 8-3.
The hot hitting Illini continued their domination in singles. Senior Shivani Davé started things off on the right foot as she bageled UIC's Amy Jellish in both sets for a 6-0, 6-0 win.
Junior Megan Fudge maintained her unblemished record in dual matches this season (7-0) as she took care of business once again, this time taking down Julia Zubkova (ISU) 6-0, 6-3. No.89-ranked Leigh Finnegan sealed the win for the Illini with a straight sets victory at No. 1 singles. Finnegan was too much for ISU's Natalia Lech as the Illini sophomore took the first 6-1 then bageled her opponent 6-0 in the second.
The Illini notched wins at Nos. 3 and 6 singles, but the Redbirds were not ready to go down without a fight. At No. 4 singles, Kristina Minor easily took the first set 6-1 over Tanja Hrovatic (ISU). However, Hrovatic battled through to a second set tiebreaker. Hrovatic edged out Minor in the tiebreaker, forcing the third set tiebreaker. In the super-tiebreaker, the two traded points back and forth in a grueling battle. In the end, Minor prevailed taking the match 6-1, 6-7 (2), 1-0 (12).
The Illini will have a short break from competition before hitting the road for a pair of away matches out east against Harvard (Feb. 21) and Boston College (Feb. 22).
#36 Illinois 7, UIC 0
Atkins Tennis Center
Feb. 8, 2009
Doubles
1) Leigh Finnegan / Megan Fudge (ILL) def. Mariya Kovaleva / Kristen McPhillips (UIC) 8-2
2) Ilinca Cristescu / Ulrikke von Ubisch (UIC) def. Annie McCarthy / Amy Allin (ILL) 8-6
3) Shivani Dave / Kristina Minor (ILL) def. Jenna Reisch / Amy Jellish (UIC) 8-5
Order of Finish 1, 3, 2
Singles
1) #89 Leigh Finnegan (ILL) def. Ilinca Cristescu (UIC) 6-2, 6-0
2) Megan Fudge (ILL) def. Mariya Kovaleva (UIC) 6-0, 6-1
3) Amy Allin (ILL) def. Kristen McPhillips (UIC) 7-5, 6-2
4) Kristina Minor (ILL) def. Jenna Reisch (UIC) 6-1, 6-4
5) Shivani Dave (ILL) def. Amy Jellish (UIC) 6-2, 6-2
6) Annie McCarthy (ILL) def. Ulrikke von Ubisch (UIC) 6-1, 6-2
Order of Finish 1, 6, 4, 2, 5, 3
#36 Illinois 7, Illinois State 0
Atkins Tennis Center
Feb. 8, 2009
Doubles
1) Leigh Finnegan / Megan Fudge (ILL) def. Julia Zubkova / Franziska Steinhardt (ISU) 8-2
2) Annie McCarthy / Amy Allin (ILL) def. Tanja Hrovatic / Natalia Lech (ISU) 8-4
3) Shivani Dave / Kristina Minor (ILL) def. Carmen Peters / Hannah Esker (ISU) 8-3
Order of Finish 1, 3, 2
Singles
1) #89 Leigh Finnegan (ILL) def. Natalia Lech (ISU) 6-1, 6-0
2) Megan Fudge (ILL) def. Julia Zubkova (ISU) 6-0, 6-3
3) Amy Allin (ILL) def. Franziska Steinhardt (ISU) 6-2, 6-3
4) Kristina Minor (ILL) def. Tanja Hrovatic (ISU) 6-1, 6-7 (2), 1-0 (14-12)
5) Shivani Dave (ILL) def. Carmen Peters (ISU) 6-0, 6-0
6) Annie McCarthy (ILL) def. Hannah Esker (ISU) 4-6, 6-1, 1-0 (10-5)
Order of Finish 5, 2, 1, 3, 6, 4
