March 26, 2000
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Coming down to the last match of the day, the University of Illinois women's tennis team outlasted the 33rd-ranked Indiana Hoosiers 4-3 on Sunday from the Atkins Tennis Center.
With the match leveled at 3-3, junior Carla Rosenberg helped the Illini run their Big Ten record to 4-0 by clinching the win with her 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Jessica Levin at No. 4. Rosenberg and senior Natalia Manasova also had a hand in Illinois earning the doubles point, winning 8-6 at No. 3 over Amanda Field and Jennifer Shaw. Rosenberg went 2-0 over the weekend in both singles and doubles.
"This (weekend) is a huge confidence booster because we started the Big Ten last year down 0-3 and now we are 4-0," Rosenberg said. "It was a good time this weekend, and it's exciting to have this momentum."
Junior Simone Kung and freshman Michelle Webb got the other Illini victory in doubles, downing Jessica Levin and Rebecca Wallihan 8-4 at No. 2. In singles, sophomore Brooke Ferney cruised 6-3, 6-1 over Zahra Ahamed at No. 3. Seeing her first Big Ten action of the season, senior Megan Wise defeated Wallihan 6-3, 6-3 at No. 6. Being down 5-4 in the second set, freshman Eldina Fazlic extended her match at No. 1 to a third set before falling 6-2, 6-7 (3), 6-2 to Jessica Anderson.
"I'm proud of the way we fought this weekend," Head coach Sujay Lama said. "It was a close match today, and we just kept fighting because we know we are more fit and have worked harder. We are mentally tough because of our hard work."
With the two league wins over the weekend, the Illini are off to their best conference start since the 1992-93 season. Illinois is now 7-9 on the year.
The Illini are back in action April 1 when they visit Northwestern.
Illinois 4, Indiana 3
1. Eldina Fazlic lost to Jessica Anderson 6-2, 6-7 (3), 6-2
2. Simone Kung lost to Kelly Branch 6-2, 6-0
3. Brooke Ferney def. Zahra Ahamed 6-3, 6-1
4. Carla Rosenberg def. Jessica Levin 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 **
5. Natalia Manasova lost to Amanda Field 6-4, 6-0
6. Megan Wise def. Rebecca Wallihan 6-3, 6-3
1. Ferney/Loebnitz lost to Anderson/Bland 8-5
2. Kung/Webb def. Levin/Wallihan 8-5
3. Rosenberg/Manasova def. Field/Hsia 8-6
Exhibition: Michelle Webb lost to Ann Poosuthasee 9-7
** clinching win
