March 2, 2002

Facing the country's 13th ranked squad on the road was a difficult task for the 35th ranked Fighting Illini women's tennis team. The Orange and Blue were upended 6-1 by North Carolina in non-conference dual-match action Saturday in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Illinois dropped all three doubles contests today, losing 8-3 at No.1 and 8-5 at Nos. 2 and 3.

UI sophomore Eva Choe picked up Illinois' only point with a 6-2, 6-1 pasting of North Carolina's Aniela Mojzis at position 4. Sophomore Jennifer McGaffigan and junior Eldina Fazlic each pushed their matches to three sets before falling in long tiebreakers. At No.1, McGaffigan, ranked 38th nationally, lost the first set 6-0, but bounced back to win the second 7-6 (3) before being downed 7-6 (8) in the final set by 32nd ranked Marlene Mejia.

Court 6 was the site of an outstanding match between Fazlic and Kendall Cline. Fazlic won the first set 6-3, but Cline came back to take the second set, 6-4 to set up a marathon third set. Cline was victorious in the final set, winning in the tiebreaker 7-6 (17).

Illinois continues its trip down Tobacco Road on Sunday with a showdown versus No. 3 Duke in Durham, N.C. The match is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. (CST)

TODAY'S ILLINOIS RESULTS:

Singles:
1. #32 Marlene Mejia (UNC) def. #38 Jennifer McGaffigan (ILL) 6-0, 6-7(3), 7-6(8)

2. Kate Pinchbeck (UNC) def. Cynthya Goulet (ILL) 6-1, 6-1

3. #70 Julie Rotondi (UNC) def. Tiffany Eklov (ILL) 6-1, 6-2

4. Eva Choe (ILL) def. Aniela Mojzis (UNC) 6-2, 6-1

5. #130 Lee Bairos (UNC) def. Kate Boomershine (ILL) 6-0, 6-3

6. Kendall Cline (UNC) def. Eldina Fazlic (ILL) 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(17)

Doubles:
1. Pinchbeck/Rotondi (UNC) def. Michelle Webb/Goulet (ILL) 8-3

2. Meija/Bairos (UNC) def. McGaffigan/Choe (ILL) 8-5

3. #22 Mojzis/Cline (UNC) def. Eklov/Boomershine (ILL) 8-5