March 27, 2004

The Fighting Illini earned the doubles point by virtue of their wins in the No. 1 and 3 matches. At the top spot, ninth-ranked Cynthya Goulet and Jennifer McGaffigan got past the Gophers' Angela Buergis and Nischela Reddy, 8-5, to boost their record to 22-5. In the No. 3 contest, Brianna Knue and Emily Wang breezed past Minnesota's Shelby Rohrer and Emily Bezek, 8-3. Tiffany Eklov and Isabel Jarosz were not as fortunate. They fell in the No. 2 match, 8-3, to Ida Malmberg and Lindsay Risebrough.

"I was not pleased with the energy level of our players when they started out in doubles," said Lama. Although it was good to get the doubles point, I felt we needed to play better. We can't afford to come out flat like that, because most of the time, it would cost us."

Lama was much more pleased with his squad's effort in singles, as five of the six players in the lineup dominated their opponents in straight sets.

Knue and Eva Choe won their No. 5 and No. 6 matches over Bezek and Megan Steiger, respectively, by identical 6-1, 6-0 scores. Eklov and Goulet also contributed shutout sets in their victories over Reddy and Malmberg at No. 2 and 3 singles. Jarosz had similar success against Risebrough, winning, 6-3, 6-0, and 6-0, 6-2. Jarosz had similar success in the No. 4 contest; she beat Risebrough, 6-1, 6-1.

Buergis held Minnesota avoid the shutout after all other matches were decided. She defeated McGaffigan, 6-3, 5-7, (10-7) at No. 1 singles.

"Buergis matched up very well against Jenny," said Lama. "Jenny never, ever gives up. Today she fought very hard to reach the tiebreaker. When you fall behind early in a 10-point tiebreaker like she did (5-2) today, it's tough. She managed to get it to 5-5, but couldn't quite get it done.

"It was great to get outside today, because all of the major events take place outdoors," Lama continued. "But what I like most is the fact that our players are very flexible. It really doesn't matter to them where they play, they just like to come out and compete."

The Fighting Illini will have to do just that tomorrow, although, with recent forecasts pointing to the possibility of rain in the Champaign-Urbana area, they may have to play indoors. They will take on the Hawkeyes Sunday, starting at 11 a.m., at Atkins.

Today's Results:
at No. 28 Illinois 6, Minnesota 1

SINGLES
1. Angela Buergis (MINN) def. #34 Jennifer McGaffigan (ILL)     6-3, 5-7, (10-7)
2. Tiffany Eklov (ILL) def. Nischela Reddy (MINN)               6-3, 6-0
3. Cynthya Goulet (ILL) def. Ida Malmberg (MINN)                6-0, 6-2
4. Isabel Jarosz (ILL) def. Lindsay Risebrough (MINN)           6-1, 6-1
5. Brianna Knue (ILL) def. Emily Bezek (MINN)                   6-1 , 6-0
6. Eva Choe (ILL) def. Megan Steiger (MINN)                     6-1, 6-0

DOUBLES 1. #9 Jennifer McGaffigan/Cynthya Goulet (ILL) def. Angela Buergis/Nischela Reddy (MINN) 8-5 2. Ida Malmberg/Lindsay Risebrough (MINN) def. Tiffany Eklov/Isabel Jarosz (ILL) 8-3 3. Brianna Knue/Emily Wang (ILL) def. Emily Bezek/Shelby Rohrer (MINN) 8-3