March 13, 2004

The Illinois women's tennis team boosted its season record to 7-3 with a solid, 6-1 victory over Illinois-Chicago in the first match of today's doubleheader at the UI Atkins Tennis Center.

Tiffany Eklov and Isabel Jarosz led the way for the Illini in doubles with an 8-0 shutout of UIC's Iris Jaklin and Ayca Gumuscu in the No. 2 match. At No. 3, Emily Wang and Brianna Knue nearly matched that performance with an 8-1 drubbing of the Flames' Christina Oum and Molly Smith. Eleventh-ranked Jennifer McGaffigan and Cynthya Goulet completed the doubles sweep for the Orange and Blue when they topped Beatriz Cabrera and Corey Steven, 8-4.

Illinois coach Sujay Lama switched up his lineup for singles, moving Brianna Knue up into the No. 3 spot and Emily Wang up to No. 5. Eva Choe, who has seen very little court time lately (she is still recovering from an ACL injury) received the nod at No. 4, and reserve Pavlina Akritas was put on the card at No. 6.

No. 33 Jennifer McGaffigan won her 20th match of the season for the fourth time in her career; she dispatched Cabrera, 6-2, 6-3, in the tussle at No. 1. Eklov was victorious at No. 2 by the same score over Ayca Gumuscu, to move her spring record to 9-1.

In the matches with UI players playing in unfamiliar spots, Akritas looked strong in her 6-0, 6-3 triumph over Athanasic Giannoulopoulou. Choe contributed a 6-2, 7-5 win over Steven at No. 4, and Knue was successful in her venture at No. 3 in the match's only three-setter, 6-3, 2-6, 2-0 against Iris Jacklin. The only loss on the day came at No. 5, where Wang fell to Smith, 6-1, 6-4.

"Our players came out and did a good job in this match," said UI Head Coach Sujay Lama. "It was a good chance to get Eva (Choe) and Pavlina (Akritas) a chance to play. Their success this afternoon will do wonders for their confidence. It will also make the competition for the regular No. 5 and 6 spots very tight.

"This was a win-win for us," Lama continued. "We like to play in-state opponents, but it's hard to play as many of them as we would like. Since there is an NCAA limit on the number of competition dates we can have, it made sense to play two matches in one day. UIC competed hard and gave us a good match. Later today, we'll get our stamina tested when we play DePaul."

The Blue Demons and the Illlini are scheduled to face one another this afternoon at 4 p.m.

Saturday's first-match results:

SINGLES:
1. #11 Jennifer McGaffigan (ILL) def. Beatriz Cabrera (UIC)         6-2, 6-3
2. Tiffany Eklov (ILL) def. Ayca Gumuscu (UIC)                      6-2, 6-3
3. Brianna Knue (ILL) def. Iris Jaklin (UIC)                        6-3, 2-6, 6-2
4. Eva Choe (ILL) def. Corey Steven (UIC)                           6-2, 7-5
5. Molly Smith (UIC) def. Emily Wang (ILL)                          6-1, 6-4
6. Pavlina Akritas (ILL) def. Athanasia Giannoulopoulou (UIC)       6-0, 6-3

DOUBLES:

1. #11 Jennifer McGaffigan/Cynthya Goulet (ILL) def. Beatriz Cabrera/Corey Steven (UIC)    8-4
2. Tiffany Eklov/Isabel Jarosz (ILL) def. Iris Jaklin/Ayca Gumuscu (UIC)                   8-0
3. Emily Wang/Brianna Knue (ILL) def. Molly Smith/Christina Oum (UIC)                      8-1