Results (PDF)
LUBBOCK, Texas – A day after taking down 30th-ranked Virginia Tech, No. 58 Illinois fell short against the ITA Kick-Off Weekend host, No. 17 Texas Tech, in a 4-1 battle that took place in Lubbock, Texas. Splitting the weekend series 1-1, the Fighting Illini are now 3-1 on the dual season. The Red Raiders improved to 2-0 with the victory and claimed a berth in the ITA National Team Indoor Championships in February.
Despite falling behind 1-3 on the third doubles court, Daniela Pedraza Novak and Alexis Casati battled back to win five-straight games and take the match against their Texas Tech counterparts. Louise Kwong and Ines Vias took down the 25th-ranked team in the nation by a line of 6-1 to secure the doubles point for the Orange and Blue.
Jerricka Boone and Madie Baillon were leading 3-2 when Illinois claimed the doubles tally.
"Our doubles play was fantastic once again today," shared head coach Evan Clark. "We really came out ready to go and did a great job of controlling the doubles point. We really felt like we had a lot of momentum headed into singles."
The Fighting Illini remained perfect in finished doubles matches on the dual season with their victories this afternoon. Illinois is now 10-0 in dual doubles matches in 2016.
Texas Tech evened the match at 1-1 with a victory at No. 3 singles. Boone fell in straight sets to the Red Raiders' Dvorak by a 6-1, 6-0 score. Soon after, Texas Tech took a 2-1 lead taking the point at No. 1 singles. Casati fell to No. 77 Talaba 6-2, 6-1.
Next to finish was court four, where Vias fell to her Red Raider counterpart by a 6-4, 6-1 score. Texas Tech claimed the match just moments later when Felicity Maltby defeated Baillon on court six by a line of 6-2, 6-4.
"Credit to the Texas Tech players for bouncing back and really out competing us in singles," stated Clark. "We were not able to dig out of some early holes we put ourselves in and they did a great job of taking the momentum back."
Unfinished matches included court two where Kwong trailed 6-7, 0-3 and court five where Pedraza Novak was behind 2-6, 4-5.
Next on the slate for the Fighting Illini is a trip to South Bend, Indiana, to face Notre Dame. Action is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 31, at 10 a.m. CT. Notre Dame is currently ranked 32nd in the Oracle/ITA Collegiate Tennis Division I Women's Team rankings. When Illinois and the Fighting Irish met in a hidden dual this fall, the Illini won all three doubles matchups while the sides split the six singles matches evenly.
"Overall, it was an extremely positive weekend for our program and we are excited for another opportunity vs. Notre Dame on Sunday," concluded Clark.
For more coverage of the Orange and Blue visit FIGHTINGILLINI.com and be sure to follow the team on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
NO. 17 TEXAS TECH 4, NO. 58 ILLINOIS 1
Doubles
Louise Kwong / Ines Vias (Illinois) def. # 25 Kiro/Valenstein (TTU) – 6-1
Jerricka Boone / Madie Baillon (Illinois) vs. Mita/Williford (TTU) – 3-2 (DNF)
Alexis Casati / Daniela Pedraza Novak (Illinois) def. Maltby/Federici (TTU) – 6-3
Singles
#77 Talaba (TTU) def. Alexis Casati (Illinois)– 6-2, 6-1
Louise Kwong (Illinois) vs. Kiro (TTU) – 6-7, 0-3 (DNF)
Dvorak (TTU) def. Jerricka Boone (Illinois) – 6-1, 6-0
Valentstein (TTU) def. Ines Vias (Illinois) – 6-4, 6-1
Daniela Pedraza Novak (Illinois) vs. Federici (TTU) – 2-6, 4-5 (DNF)
Maltby (TTU) def. Madie Baillon (Illinois) – 6-2, 6-4
