April 3, 2004

The 24th-ranked Illinois women's tennis team earned a 4-3, come-from-behind victory over the Badgers of Wisconsin earlier today at Illinois' Atkins Tennis Center. After failing to gain the doubles point, the Illini dropped the first two singles matches and faced a 3-0 deficit before winning the last four matches to earn the victory. With today's win, the Illini extended their winning streak to six, dating back to their double-header victory at Atkins March 13 over Illinois-Chicago and DePaul.

"Wisconsin is a very tough team," said head coach Sujay Lama. "Every conference match is tough; there are no easy matches. I don't think we overlooked them. I think they outplayed us in doubles and we found ourselves in a hole, but at no point did we think we were going to lose this match."

In doubles action, the Illini dropped two of the three matches. Emily Wang and Brianna Knue won their No. 3 match against Shana McElroy and Kaylan Caiati, 8-7. Jennifer McGaffigan and Cynthya Goulet fell, 8-4, to UW's Katie McGaffigan and Lindsay Martin in the first of two battles of the sisters. Tiffany Eklov and Isabel Jarosz dropped their No. 2 match, 8-1, to Caitlin Burke and Teresa Gonzaga.

In singles play, the Illini dropped their first two matches as Jarosz fell, 6-3, 6-4, to Caiati at the No. 4 position and Choe lost, 6-4, 6-1, to Burke at the No. 6 spot. From there the Illini ran the table to secure the win. Eklov emerged victorious, 6-2, 6-3, in her match with McElroy at No. 2. Following her was Goulet who won, 6-3, 6-1, over Martin in the No. 3 contest. At No. 1, UI senior Jennifer McGaffigan went one-on-one with younger sister Katie McGaffigan. Jennifer battled to a 7-5, 6-4 victory.

"It was fun to play her," said Jennifer about playing her sister. "She has a lot different game than I do. She hits the ball really hard and has a good forehand, and I think I am more consistent and run down more balls. Obviously she knows my game really well and I know hers; it was a fun match."

In the final and game deciding match--the only one to go three sets--Knue came back after dropping the first set, 3-6, to dominate the next two sets 6-1 and 6-0 to pick up the win over Gonzaga in tough conditions. Winds were blowing at 25 mph with gusts up to 32 mph during the deciding contest after having been relatively calm during doubles and gradually escalating.

"(Coach) Sujay (Lama) did a really good job of keeping me focused," said Knue. "He told me that I was going to get this. I had been in situations like that before, so I relied on those experiences, and it helped me pull through."

"I just told Brianna that is wasn't about tennis anymore," said Lama. "It's about will, desire and focus and getting the ball back one more time. That's why Brianna and Jennifer are such amazing competitors. They will compete, no matter what."

The victory pushed Illinois' season record to 12-3 and its Big Ten mark to 3-1; the Badgers slipped to 7-9 and 0-3. Tomorrow the Illini will take on the seventh-ranked Wildcats from Northwestern, with action beginning at 11 am at the Atkins Tennis Center.

TODAY'S RESULTS:
at No. 24 Illinois 4, Wisconsin 3

DOUBLES
1. Katie McGaffigan/Lindsay Martin (WIS) def. #9 Jennifer McGaffigan/Cynthya Goulet (ILL)   8-4
2. Caitlin Burke/Teresa Gonzaga (WIS) def. Tiffany Eklov/Isabel Jarosz (ILL)                8-1
3. Emily Wang/Brianna Knue (ILL) def. Shana McElroy/Kaylan Caiati (WIS)                     8-7

SINGLES 1. #34 Jennifer McGaffigan (ILL) def. Katie McGaffigan(WIS) 7-5, 6-4 2. Tiffany Eklov (ILL) def. Shana McElroy(WIS) 6-2, 6-3 3. Cynthya Goulet (ILL) def. Lindsay Martin (WIS) 6-3, 6-1 4. Kaylan Caiati (WIS) def. Isabel Jarosz (ILL) 6-3, 6-4 5. Brianna Knue (ILL) def. Teresa Gonzaga (WIS) 3-6, 6-1, 6-0 6. Caitlin Burke (WIS) def. Eva Choe (ILL) 6-4, 6-1