Feb. 16, 2002

Illinois' women's tennis team went on the road today to battle the sixth-ranked Wake Forest Demon Deacons, falling 5-2 in Winston-Salem, N.C. The 34th ranked Fighting Illini dropped the doubles point, but picked up victories in singles at the Nos. 1 and 6 spots.

In doubles, the Orange and Blue lost 8-2 at No.1, 8-0 at No.2 and 8-4 at No. 3. The Wake Forest duo of Janet Bergman and Bea Bielik, who competed at No.1 is the third ranked team in the nation.

"Jenny (McGaffigan) had a sensational win today over the nation's 12th ranked player," said Head Coach Sujay Lama.

In singles action, sophomore Jennifer McGaffigan, ranked 51st nationally, picked up a decisive 6-4, 6-2 victory over Janet Bergman who is ranked 12th in the nation. Junior Eldina Fazlic picked the Illini's other point with a 7-6, 6-4 victory over Liz Proctor at No.6. The Orange and Blue dropped matches at Nos. 2, 3, 4, and 5 by the scores of 6-2, 6-3 on No.2, 6-3, 3-6, 6-0 on No. 3, 6-1, 6-1 at position 4 and 6-2, 6-3 on No. 5. Bielik, the nation's top singles player did not compete due to a strained bicep.

"Our team competed their hearts out today," said Lama. "I am very, very proud of the way we played today. We have improved so much since our last match against a top-10 team (a 7-0 loss to then No. 6 Tennessee). Today was fun and we competed with one of the best teams in the nation. We were in almost every match today. That says a lot about our team and where we can go if we continue to improve."

Lama continued, "I can't say enough about how much we've improved over the last three weeks. Our goal is to improve tomorrow and hopefully we will."

The Orange and Blue continue the road trip tomorrow when they face off with second-ranked Vanderbilt in Nashville, TN. The match is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. (CST).

TODAY'S ILLINOIS RESULTS:
Singles:
1. #51 Jennifer McGaffigan (ILL) def. #12 Janet Bergman (WF)	6-4, 6-2
2. #67 Maren Haus (WF) def. Cynthya Goulet (ILL)		6-2, 6-3
3. #110 Katie Martzolf (WF) def. Tiffany Eklov (ILL)		6-3, 3-6, 6-0
4. Danielle Schwartz (WF) def. Eva Choe (ILL)			6-1, 6-1
5. Aimee Smith (WF) def. Kate Boomershine (ILL)		6-2, 6-3
6. Eldina Fazlic (ILL) def. Liz Proctor (WF)			7-6, 6-4

Doubles:
1. Bea Bielik/Bergman (WF) def. McGaffigan/Goulet (ILL)	8-2
2. Martzolf/Schwartz (WF) def. Michelle Webb/Boomershine (ILL)	8-0
3. Karin Coetzee/Smith (WF) def. Eklov/Choe (ILL)		8-4