March 25, 2000
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Sophomore Brooke Ferney and freshman Natascha Loebnitz upset the 11th-ranked doubles team in the country and spearheaded Illinois to the 5-2 win over the Purdue Boilermakers on Saturday from the Atkins Tennis Center.
The win at No. 1 doubles gave the momentum to the Illini, who collected four singles victories to improve to 3-0 in the Big Ten. Splitting the matches at Nos. 2 and 3 doubles, Ferney and Loebnitz came back from being down 6-1 to win 9-8 (6) over Jennifer Embry and Shannon Taheny. The No. 3 team of senior Natalia Manasova and junior Carla Rosenberg set the stage for the Illini, downing Erika Quebe and Melisaa Iqbal 8-0. Junior Simone Kung and freshman Michelle Webb fell 8-6 to Lisa Walgenbach and Lynsey Fick at No. 2.
"The conditions were very tough today, but it was great to play at home and get another Big Ten win," Head coach Sujay Lama said. "Brooke and Natascha came out and had a gutsy performance. It was the difference maker."
Ferney carried her success over to singles, where she defeated Quebe 6-2, 6-4 at No. 3. Kung went 6-0, 6-1 over Taheny at No. 2. In 6-4, 6-3 fashion, Rosenberg defeated Walgenbach at No. 5 and Manasova got the 6-3, 6-0 victory over Fick at No. 6. Freshman Eldina Fazlic pulled a thigh muscle in the first set of her match at No. 1 and was forced to retire.
"We were out there fighting today, and everyone played well," Kung said. "We have to put it all together, but we are looking forward to playing Indiana tomorrow."
The match was the Illini's first Atkins action since Jan. 22. In the 12 road matches, the Illini faced three top 10 opponents and posted a record of 4-8. Opening league play with wins over Michigan and Michigan State, Illinois faces seven conference foes to close out the regular season.
Illinois, now 6-9 on ythe year, takes to the court against Indiana at 11 a.m on Sunday.
Illinois 5, Purdue 2
1. Eldina Fazlic lost to Jennifer Embry 7-5, 1-0 ret.
2. Simone Kung def. Shannon Taheny 6-0, 6-1
3. Brooke Ferney def. Erika Quebe 6-2, 6-4
4. Natascha Loebnitz lost to Melissa Iqbal 6-2, 6-4
5. Carla Rosenberg def. Lisa Walgenbach 6-4, 6-3
6. Natalia Manasova def. Lynsey Fick 6-3, 6-0
1. Ferney/Loebnitz def. Embry/Taheny 9-8 (6)
2. Kung/Webb lost to Walgenbach/Fick 6-0, 6-1
3. Rosenberg/Manasova def. Quebe/Iqbal 8-0
