University of Illinois
Rutgers
Fighting Illini Close Out Home Stand a Perfect 3-0
April 5, 2015 | Women's Tennis
Results
URBANA, Ill. - For the second day in a row, the Fighting Illini women's tennis team topped a new Big Ten opponent. Illinois made quick work of the visiting Scarlet Knights taking the match 7-0 in straight sets. The win capped off a perfect three-match post-spring break home stand for head coach Michelle Dasso's crew.
Illinois claimed the doubles point over the Scarlett Knights thanks to quick work on all three courts. First done were Jerricka Boone and Madie Baillon, who overcame dropping the first two games by taking eight of the next nine games for an 8-3 decision. The sophomores are now 7-1 working together and have won their last five matches.
After being knotted at 2-2 Louise Kwong and Melissa Kopinski rattled off six straight games to take the match 8-2. The duo has now won 10 matches this spring. On court three, Alexis Casati and Grace Tapak looked like they'd take their match as well, but play was abandoned due to Illinois clinching the doubles point on court one. Casati and Tapak were ahead 7-2, 15-0 when play was called.
Baillon was first off of the singles courts as she won 6-1, 6-1 to move to 7-5 overall on the spring.
Next to secure an Illinois point was Casati on court one. Casati and Rutgers' Li were tied at 1-1 and 2-2 in the first set before Casati won the next four games and shut out her counterpart in the second set for a 6-2, 6-0 win. The sophomore is 8-8 on the spring and 5-2 in Big Ten play.
Kopinski secured the match for the second time in the past four days for the Fighting Illini. The senior Illini topped Rutgers' Lee 6-3, 6-2 after trailing 2-0 in the opening set. With the court two win, Kopinski moved to 11-6 on the season and 4-3 in conference matchups.
On court five, Boone added to the Illini tally as she took her match by sets of 6-3, 6-1. Boone is now 8-6 this spring and holds a 4-2 record in the league.
Kwong was next to finish as she claimed her 11th win on the season. The first set on court three was decided with a tiebreaker that favored the Illini sophomore by a mark of 7-5. After trading games to open the second set, Kwong ran away with the match in a 6-3 fashion.
Down on court six, Jade Hilton claimed her second Big Ten victory in as many days. The freshman battled to a 6-3, 6-4 victory and improved to 6-6 on her debut campaign.
Next up for the Fighting Illini is a trip north to visit Wisconsin on April 10 at 5 p.m. and Minnesota on April 12 at 11 a.m. to wrap up regular season play away from home.
Wisconsin
