Feb. 16, 2003
Illinois' women's tennis team beat Minnesota, 4-3, Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis. The win puts the Illini at 2-0 in conference play and 5-3 overall. The Illini won two of three doubles contests and three of six singles matches.
"Minnesota had beaten Purdue yesterday, so they had some momentum going," Head Coach Sujay Lama said. "This was a big win for us today. To win two on the road to start out Big Ten play is tremendous. This weekend we showed what a great group of fighters we have."
UI senior Eldina Fazlic clinched the match for the Illini with a hard-fought 7-5, 5-7, 7-5 win over Amy Thomas at No. 3. At No. 2, junior Tiffany Eklov upended Valerie Vladea, ranked No. 119 nationally, 6-4, 6-2. Illini junior Eva Choe finished Illinois' singles scoring with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Kandis Batiste at No. 6.
The Illini jumped out to a 1-0 lead by winning the doubles point. At No. 1, Jennifer McGaffigan and Michelle Webb, 21st nationally, teamed to defeat the Gophers' Michaela Havelkova and Angela Buergis, 8-5. Eklov and freshman Brianna Knue cruised past Brandi Watts and Nischela Reddy 8-3.
The Illini have benefited from an early season schedule that has pitted them against some of the nation's top compettion.
"Our scheduling has really helped us," Lama said. "We recently lost some close matches to some really good teams where we had opportunities to win. We get better by playing tough competition, and it's starting to pay off."
"The women realize what they've learned, and now they're capitalizing on the opportunities. I thought we were very poised today in a very difficult match."
The Illini continue the tough schedule next Sunday, Feb. 23, when the top-ranked Duke Blue Devils invade Atkins Tennis Center.
No. 49 Illinois 4, No. 50 Minnesota 3
Singles:
1. Angela Buergis (MN) def. #41 Jennifer McGaffigan (UI) 6-4, 6-7 (8), 6-3
2. Tiffany Eklov (UI) def. #119 Valerie Vladea (MN) 6-4, 6-2
3. Eldina Fazlic (UI) def. Amy Thomas (MN) 7-5, 5-7, 7-5
4. Michaela Havelkova (MN) def. Brianna Knue (UI) 6-1, 3-6, 6-4
5. Nischela Reddy (MN) def. Michelle Webb (UI) 6-2, 6-3
6. Eva Choe (UI) def. Kandis Batiste (MN) 6-3, 6-2
Doubles: 1. #21 Webb/McGaffigan (UI) def. Havelkova/Buergis (MN) 8-5 2. Vladea/Thomas (MN) def. #54 Fazlic/Choe (UI) 8-1 3. Knue/Eklov (UI) def. Reddy/Watts (MN) 8-3
