March 28, 2004

The 28th-ranked Illinois women's tennis team moved to 11-3 on the season and 2-1 in conference play with its second decisive 6-1 Big Ten victory in as many days outdoors on its home courts. Yesterday the victim was Minnesota; today the Illini dispatched No. 38 Iowa (12-4, 2-1) for their third victory in a row.

Temperatures were unseasonably warm, in the 70's in Champaign-Urbana, but winds were brisk from the south as the two teams took the courts.

Early in the match it looked like it was going to be a 4-3 affair, one way or another. Freshman Emily Wang and sophomore Brianna Knue got the Illini off to a good start with their hard-fought 8-4 victory over the Hawkeyes' Hilary Tyler and Chelsea Glynn. There were significant comebacks in the other two doubles contests, but both ended up going Illinois' way. Tiffany Eklov and Isabel Jarosz surrendered a 4-1 lead, but held off Iowa's Deni Alexandrova and Anastasia Zhukova, 9-7, in the No. 2 match. At No. 1, ninth-ranked Cynthya Goulet and Jennifer McGaffigan came back from a 5-1 deficit to inch past the visitors' Meg Racette and Hillary Mintz, 9-8 (2).

"Emily and Brianna listened well and executed well," said UI Assistant Coach JoAnne Russell. "That was a big key to us winning that match. They were very focused. I actually thought that Iowa's No. 3 team was better than their No. 2 team. At No. 2, Tiffany and Isabel were off to a good start, but then they let things slide-they lost some of their aggressiveness. The Iowa players did a good job of changing the tempo in the middle of that match. When our girls got back to playing with more energy and went after their opponents again, that's when they were able to get the win."

With the doubles point in hand and with the winds picking up, the Illini sought to capitalize.

"Before the match, when the decision was made to play outside, it occurred to me that some of the Iowa players seemed a bit disappointed. Our players are very used to the wind here, and I think that played to our advantage," said Illini volunteer coach Adam Chervin.

Only three of the singles matches went two sets. Jarosz gave Illinois a 2-0 lead with her 6-1, 7-5 triumph over Zhukova in the No. 4 tilt, and senior Eva Choe followed suit with a 7-5, 6-3 decision at No. 6 over Tyler. Eklov stumbled in her No.2 match, falling to Mintz, 6-4, 6-3, for only the second loss in her last 15 matches. Illinois, up, 3-1, would get the clincher from the 34th-ranked McGaffigan. Her 23rd victory of the season, 7-6 (7), 6-2 over Racette, put the Orange and Blue over the top.

Goulet came from behind in the No. 3 match to beat Glynn, 2-6, 7-6 (6), 6-2, and Knue capped off the Illini win with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 verdict over Alexandrova.

"Cynthya just hung in there and hung in there," said Russell. "She was down a set and down, 3-1, in the second; she didn't let down a bit. Her determination was very evident, and it paid off. And as for Jenny (McGaffigan), she played the best she has played since near the beginning of the season. That was great to see."

"That loss at Purdue was a real wake-up call for us," said Chervin. "The players came to the realization that all Big Ten matches are going to be tough and we can't let our guard down. It has really given our team a sense of urgency."

Illinois will need to continue in that mode if it wishes to remain in contention for its first Big Ten championship. The Orange and Blue homestand will continue next weekend with matches Saturday against Wisconsin and Sunday against nemesis Northwestern, the No. 6 team in the nation.

Today's Results:
at No. 28 Illinois 6, No. 38 Iowa 1

SINGLES
1. #34 Jennifer McGaffigan (ILL) def. Meg Racette (IOWA)   7-6 (7), 6-2
2. Hillary Mintz (IOWA) def. Tiffany Eklov (ILL)           6-4, 6-3
3. Cynthya Goulet (ILL) def. Chelsea Glynn (IOWA)          2-6, 7-6 (6), 6-2
4. Isabel Jarosz (ILL) def. Anastasia Zhukova (IOWA)       6-1, 7-5
5. Brianna Knue (ILL) def. Deni Alexandrova (IOWA)         6-2, 3-6, 6-4
6. Eva Choe (ILL) def. Hilary Tyler (IOWA)                 7-5, 6-3

DOUBLES 1. #9 Jennifer McGaffigan/Cynthya Goulet (ILL) def. Meg Racette/Hillary Mintz (IOWA) 9-8 (2) 2. Tiffany Eklov/Isabel Jarosz (ILL) def. Deni Alexandrova/Anastasia Zhukova (IOWA) 9-7 3. Brianna Knue/Emily Wang (ILL) def. Hilary Tyler/Chelsea Glynn (IOWA) 8-4