Feb. 26, 2000

EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Fighting Illini women's tennis team started Big Ten action in dominating fashion, shutting out Michigan State 7-0 on Saturday.

The only close match of the day was senior Natalia Manasova's 7-6 (7-2), 7-5 win over Michigan State freshman Joi McQueen. The Illini dominated the rest of the matches that were played. The Spartans forfeited both the No. 6 singles and the No. 3 doubles matches.

"We got the win, but we need to step up and be ready to go," said head coach Sujay Lama. "We were a little flat, and we didn't compete with great intensity."

The highlight of the match for Coach Lama was the return of junior Simone Kung, who has been recovering from an isolated ACL tear. In her singles action of the year, Kung defeated Natasha Skogerboe 6-3, 6-3 at No. 2 and teamed with freshman Michelle Webb to defeat Kelli Hayes and Kerry Pastein 8-5 no. 2 doubles.

"It was great having Simone in the lineup" Lama said. "It was a thrill to see her compete again."

<>The Illinois women, now 3-5 on the year, stay on the road to face conference foe Michigan on Sunday at 10 a.m.

Singles

1.Eldina Fazlic def. Brooke Townsend 6-4, 6-2

2.Simone Kung def. Natasha Skogerboe 6-3, 6-3

3. Natascha Loebnitz def. Kelli Hayes 6-2, 6-2

4. Carla Rosenberg def. Kerry Pastein 6-0, 6-0

5. Natalia Manasova def. Joi McQueen 7-6 (7-2), 7-5

6. Michelle Webb won by default

Doubles

1. Loebnitz/Brooke Ferney def. Townsend/Skogerboe 8-5

2. Kung/Webb def. Hayes/Pastein 8-5

3. Rosenberg/Manasova won by default