Oct. 1, 2005

LOS ANGELES, CAlif. - Three women of the University of Illinois tennis team tried to make a run at the Riviera/ITA All-American Tennis Championships. Sophomores Momei Qu and Macall Harkins were both eliminated in first and second rounds of the prequalifying tournament respectively on Saturday. Harkins and Brianna Knue were eliminated in the first round of doubles.

"The main thing is that this was a great experience for all three of them," said Coach Sujay Lama. "Their weaknesses were exposed but I think it will serve as good motivation for them because they see what it takes to be the best in the country."

Macall Harkins started the day off strong beating Patil Rashmee of Yale 6-0, 6-2. She then had the daunting task of facing the 64-player bracket's top-seeded and 99th-ranked Clelia Deltour of Duke. Harkins did not have enough to take her down, losing 6-1, 6-2.

Momei Qu had a tough match-up against 14th-seeded and No. 124 Marielle Gruening of UC-Santa Barbara. Qu lost a heartbreaker. After winning the first set and going up 5-1 in the second set, Qu fell to Gruening 3-6, 7-6(2), 6-1.

"Momei got a little tentative," Lama said. "She got indecisive because she was playing to protect her lead and not lose."

Brianna Knue and Harkins opened the doubles prequalifying with a loss to Ana Jerman and Tara Christian of Wake Forest. They fell behind early and could never climb back, losing 8-3.

The Illini head back to Champaign-Urbana Sunday morning and will be joined by their teammates after the conclusion of the Kentucky Fall Invite late Sunday to prepare for the upcoming ITA Midwest Regional in East Lansing, Mich.

Riviera/ITA All-American Championships Saturday Results

Prequalifying Singles:
Macall Harkins (ILL) def. Patil Rashmee (YALE); 6-0, 6-2
#99 (1) Clelia Deltour (DUKE) def. Macall Harkins (ILL); 6-1. 6-2
# 124 Marielle Gruenig (UCSB) def. Momei Qu (ILL); 3-6, 7-6(2), 6-1

Prequalifying Doubles: Ana Jerman/Tara Christian (WF) def. Knue/Harkins (ILL); 8-3