Jan. 27, 2001

The Fighting Illini women's tennis team opened up its dual meet season with shutouts over Illinois State and Illinois-Chicago. In both matches the Illini started off slow but were able to recover and pick up wins in 13 of the 14 matches at the Atkins Tennis Center.

"We started off a little jittery," Head Coach Sujay Lama said, "but as the day progressed we were able to shake those jitters off and play solid tennis."

Eva Choe, who was making her home Illini debut, was nothing but impressive all day long. She collected four wins including a flawless final singles match.

"I was very pleased with the way that I played today," said Choe, who has only been on campus for two weeks now. "The intensity is a lot different from where I came from, but I was able to adjust and be successful."

Lama was also very pleased with what he saw from his newest freshman. "She is a very talented tennis player who played very well today," he said.

Another freshman, Jennifer McGaffigan, continued to play well by also collecting four wins on the day. She and doubles partner Choe collected victories in both matches and McGaffigan went on to claim two singles victories of her own. An injury to senior Carla Rosenberg shook up the lineup, but the Illini were able to respond. Senior Simone Kung and freshman Tiffany Eklov teamed up for two victories on the afternoon. Each player also went on to collect two singles wins. In fact, the Fighting Illini did not drop a singles match all day.

Sophomores Michelle Webb and Eldina Fazlic split in doubles today, and both went on to victories in both of their singles matches. Illinois is now 2-0 on the young season and will return to action next Saturday and Sunday with matches against Louisville and Tennessee, respectively, at Atkins.

Today's Illinois Results

11 a.m. match-ILLINOIS 7, Illinois State 0
Singles:
1. Eldina Fazlic (ILL) def. Liina Suurvarik (ISU)	    6-2, 6-3
2. Jennifer McGaffigan (ILL) def.Alesia Mikalayeva (ISU)    6-1, 6-1
3. Simone Kung (ILL) def. Zana Friganovic (ISU)	            6-1, 6-2
4. Tiffany Eklov (ILL) def. Elizabeth Bingier (ISU)	    4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (4)
5. Eva Choe (ILL) def. Brigette Zarazee (ISU)	            6-0, 6-2
6. Michelle Webb (ILL) def. Alana Hoffman (ISU)	            6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (5)

Doubles:

1. Liina Suurvarik/Alesia Mikalayeva (ISU) def. Eldina Fazlic/Michelle Webb (ILL) 8-3

2. Eva Choe/Jennifer McGaffigan (ILL) def. Elizabeth Bingier/Alana Hoffman (ISU) 8-3

3. Tiffany Eklov/Simone Kung (ILL) def. Zana Friganovic/Brigette Zarazee (ISU) 8-5

4 p.m. match-ILLINOIS 7, Illinois-Chicago 0

Singles:

1. Eldina Fazlic (ILL) def. Ayca Gumuscu (UIC) 6-4, 6-2

2. Jennifer McGaffigan (ILL) def. Nicole Derouin (UIC) 6-2, 6-4

3. Simone Kung (ILL) def. Jacki Farr (UIC) 7-5, 6-3

4. Tiffany Eklov (ILL) def. Zvjezdana Maesevich (UIC) 6-4, 6-3

5. Eva Choe (ILL) def. Zorica Malesevic (UIC) 6-0, 6-0

6. Michelle Webb (ILL) def. Karen Liwanpo (UIC) 6-2, 6-3

Doubles:

1. Eldina Fazlic/Michelle Webb (ILL) def. Nicole Derouin/Jacki Farr (UIC) 9-7

2. Eva Choe/Jennifer McGaffigan (ILL) def. Ayca Gumuscu/Karen Liwanpo (UIC) 8-2

3. Tiffany Eklov/Simone Kung (ILL) def. Alyson Stalzer/Kim Harris (UIC) 8-2