May 14, 2004

The 22nd-ranked Fighting Illini women's tennis team experienced a disappointing ending to one of its best seasons today. The Orange and Blue fell, 4-2, to No. 36 William & Mary in an opening-round NCAA Tournament match in Durham, N.C. Illinois finished the season 17-6, losing its final three matches of the year directly after having won a school record 11 matches in a row.

"This is a very bitter and sad ending to a terrific year," said UI Head Coach Sujay Lama. "It's so disappointing that we could not send off the seniors with a happier feeling. They're the reason we had such a good season overall. The last three weeks we have just not been able to have all of our doubles teams clicking at once. Losing the doubles point makes it very tough on us."

In addition, losing sophomore Brianna Knue four weeks ago turned out to be a blow the Fighting Illini could just not overcome. She last played April 17 in a 5-2 home victory over Michigan. After experiencing some deep soreness in her foot, she was kept out of the Michigan State match (7-0 Illinois win) the next day as a precaution. Early the ensuing week it was determined that she had sustained a stress fracture in her left foot, and her season was history.

"She has meant a lot to us," said Lama, "but now we know just how important her contribution was. Even though we lost our last three matches, I can't fault our players' efforts. They have worked very hard, but they just weren't able to overcome that much adversity."

The Illini got off to a strong start when the freshman tandem of Isabel Jarosz and Emily Wang, who had never competed in a collegiate doubles match together, demolished William & Mary's No. 3 team of Alex deGuzman and Emily Mowery, 8-0. Tiffany Eklov and Eva Choe, who had played just once before as a duo, weren't so fortunate. They bowed to Lena Sherbakov and former Illini Kate Boomershine, 8-5. Then, with the doubles point on the line, the 15th-ranked team of Jennifer McGaffigan and Cynthya Goulet finished off their disappointing No. 1 match on the wrong side of the ledger, falling to Megan Muth and Amy Wei, 8-5.

Goulet and McGaffigan shook off their doubles defeat when it came time to play singles. Goulet tied the match at 1-1 when she throttled Wei, 6-3, 6-0, in the No. 3 match. It was her 15th consecutive singles win. The Tribe roared back with victories at Nos. 4 and 5 to take a 3-1 lead, one that W&M would never relinquish. Jarosz dropped a 6-3, 6-2 decision to Lingda Yang at No. 4 and Mowery had her way with Choe in the No. 5 match, winning 6-4, 6-2. McGaffigan made it interesting when she dispatched Muth, 6-4, 6-3, in the No. 1 contest. Kristen Dunbar clinched the victory for W&M with her 6-4, 6-1 triumph over Pavlina Akritas at the No. 6 spot. Eklov was leading at No. 2, 4-1, in the third set when the match was called.

Although Choe and Eklov finished their careers today, McGaffigan and Goulet get to continue competing. The pair will compete in the NCAA Doubles Tournament, which starts May 24 in Athens, Ga. The 38th-ranked McGaffigan will also play in the NCAA Singles competition, which runs concurrently.

FRIDAY'S RESULTS from Durham, N.C.:
No. 36 William & Mary 4, No. 22 Illlinois 2

Doubles:
1. Megan Muth/Amy Wei (W&M) def. No. 15 Jennifer McGaffigan/Cynthya Goulet (ILL)   8-5
2. Kate Boomershine/Lena Sherbakov (W&M) def. Tiffany Eklov/Eva Choe (ILL)         8-5
3. Emily Wang/Isabel Jarosz (ILL) def. Alex deGuzman/Emily Mowery (W&M)            8-0

Singles: 1. Jennifer McGaffigan (ILL) def. Megan Muth (W&M) 6-4, 6-3 2. Tiffany Eklov (ILL) vs. Lena Sherbakov (W&M) DNF 3. Cynthya Goulet (ILL) def. Amy Wei (W&M) 6-3, 6-0 4. Lingda Yang (W&M) def. Isabel Jarosz (ILL) 6-3, 6-2 5. Emily Mowrey (W&M) def. Eva Choe (ILL) 6-4, 6-2 6. Kristen Dunbar (W&M) def. Pavlina Akritas (ILL) 6-4, 6-1