March 27, 2003
The Illinois women's tennis team takes its highest-ever Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) national ranking, No. 17, into a pair of important Big Ten matches this weekend. Coach Sujay Lama's squad sports a 9-3 overall record and a 2-0 Big Ten mark ahead of Saturday's (11 a.m.) and Sunday's (noon) contests at Northwestern and Wisconsin, respectively. The Fighting are tied with the Wildcats for second place in the conference, a half-game behind leader Ohio State, which is 3-0. Wisconsin is 1-1 in the Big Ten and 4-7 overall; the Badgers are in sixth place in the conference.
"There's no question, this is a big week for us," said Lama, "but from now on, all of the matches are huge. There is a lot of parity in college women's tennis right now, and that's also true of the Big Ten. Northwestern and Wisconsin were Nos. 1 and 2 in the conference last year, and they will be tough opponents; we're looking forward to the opportunity to compete with them this weekend. Claire Pollard, in particular, deserves a lot of credit for building up her Northwestern program. They've made a statement in the Midwest and in the Big Ten; they've raised the bar for the rest of us."
The Illini have remained on campus during spring break this week, and have spent their time training and performing community service (see photo gallery).
"This has been a great week so far," said Lama. "We haven't had all the hassles of traveling. The weather has been great, and we've been able to work on the things we've needed to. The players have been volunteering at the local food bank and one of the elementary schools in Champaign, and we have eaten dinner together every evening."
Illinois travels to Chicago today and will continue training there. Lama's group is confident, having received its highest national ranking for the second week in a row (19th, and now 17th).
"I'm especially pleased for our players," said Lama. "They deserve the recognition. What I like about this team is that it remembers where it has been ranked in the past, and it remembers what it has taken to get out of that situation. I believe they'll avoid becoming complacent."
The Illini will send a pair of ranked singles players into this weekend's action. Junior Jennifer McGaffigan holds the No. 66 spot, and classmate Tiffany Eklov is No. 106 in the nation. McGaffigan, together with senior Michelle Webb, form the country's 15th-ranked doubles duo.
The 27th-ranked Wildcats will counter with four top-100 players: Cristelle Grier (7), Marine Piriou (26), Jessica Rush (80) and Andrea Yung (98). Rush and Grier are ranked No. 13 in doubles. Northwestern is 9-6 on the season and is 2-0 in Big Ten play, prior to this evening's match at Texas. The Wildcats' season has been highlighted by a win over Tennessee in the consolation title match at the National Indoors.
Wisconsin is 6-7 overall and 1-1 in Big Ten competition as it enters its match with Purdue Saturday. The Badgers have split their conference contests, winning over Indiana and losing to Northwestern. Shana McElroy is Wisconsin's lone ranked player (94). The UI-UW match will bring two sisters together-Illinois junior Jennifer McGaffigan and Badger sophomore Katie McGaffigan. The siblings are unlikely to face each other, as Jennifer has been at No. 1 in both singles for almost the entire year, while Katie has been playing mostly at No. 3 singles and No. 2 doubles of late.
After the weekend, the Fighting Illini return home for a three-match home stand. Notre Dame comes into town Wednesday, April 2, and Penn State and Ohio State invade the Atkins Tennis Center Saturday and Sunday, Apr. 5 and 6, respectively.
