April 5, 2001
The Fighting Illini battled, but were defeated, 4-3, in dual-match action Thursday afternoon at the Atkins Tennis Center. The Illini, trailing throughout, fought back against a talented Notre Dame squad, but came up on the losing end of the score.
In doubles action, Illinois lost the point, falling 8-3 at No.3, and 8-5 on No. 2, but facing the No. 5 doubles team in the country, Notre Dame's Michelle Dasso and Becky Varnum at No. 1, senior Simone Kung and sophomore Michelle Webb pushed the Irish duo to a tie-breaker before falling, 9-8 (7-4).
In singles, the Orange and Blue rallied from a 3-0 deficit after losses at No. 2 and No.3 in straight sets. At No. 4, Kung defeated the Irish's Caylan Leslie, 7-6 (7-4), 7-5, and fellow senior Carla Rosenberg played a tough match and beat Notre Dame's Lindsey Green on No. 5. At No. 6, Webb overcame a 6-2 first-set loss to fight back and defeat Kim Guy, 2-6, 7-5, 6-3. The match was decided at No.1 where Illini freshman Jennifer McGaffigan came back, after losing the first set 1-6, to win the second set, 6-1, to set up the deciding set. McGaffigan battled extremely well and hit some tough shots, but still fell, 6-3, and dropped the match.
"I am extremely proud of the way that we fought back today--it was a tremendous rally," said Head Coach Sujay Lama. "We are a very fit team and I thought we would get the job done. We are right there with the top teams, we need to learn to capitalize and break through in a situation like today. We are playing good tennis, but we have to learn to finish off matches, and then we will be among the elite."
About her match, McGaffigan said, "We have similar games and there were some really long points. I tried to stay out there as long as I could after the first set, I picked it up in the second set and played smarter."
Illinois' next match is Saturday April 7, at #28 Iowa. The match is scheduled to begin at 11a.m.
No. 7 Notre Dame 4, No. 35 ILLINOIS 3
SINGLES
1. No.3 Michelle Dasso (ND) def. No.91 Jennifer McGaffigan (ILL) 6-1, 1-6, 6-3*
2. Becky Varnum (ND) def. Eldina Fazlic (ILL) 6-1, 6-0
3. Nina Vaughan (ND) def. Eva Choe (ILL) 6-1, 6-3
4. Simone Kung (ILL) def. Caylan Leslie (ND) 7-6 (7-4), 7-5
5. Carla Rosenberg (ILL) def. Lindsey Green (ND) 7-5 (7-5), 6-4
6. Michelle Webb (ILL) def. Kim Guy (ND) 2-6, 7-5, 6-3
DOUBLES
1. No. 5 Michelle Dasso/Becky Varnum (ND) def. Simone Kung/Michelle Webb (ILL) 9-8 (7-4)
2. Katie Cunha/Kim Guy (ND) def. Eldina Fazlic/Jennifer McGaffigan 8-5
3. Lindsey Green/Nina Vaughan (ND) def. Carla Rosenberg/Eva Choe (ILL) 8-3
*Match-clinching victory
