Oct. 1, 2005

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The University of Illinois women's tennis team concluded the second day of the 12-team Kentucky Fall Invitational. The disappointment continued for the Illini as they only won one match on Saturday. The Orange and Blue will continue the final day of competition Sunday at 9 a.m.

"I have to take the blame on this one," said assistant coach JoAnne Russell. "I couldn't get them fired up and finish. We had some good opportunities but didn't capitalize."

Senior Pavlina Akritas lost her flight D singles semifinal match to Louisville's Natalie Baez 6-1, 6-0. Emily Wang battled her way through the flight A singles back draw and topped East Tennesse's Olga Batsula. The two battled in a three set back-and-fourth match that ended with Wang on the winning side of a 12-10 tiebreaker. The Illini got loses from Shivani Dave' in flight B and Alejandra Meza Cuadra in flight C.

The Illini didn't have any luck in doubles after winning their first round tilts yesterday in both flight A and B. Wang and Dave' lost both matches today falling to Sackmaster and Iwinski of Kentucky 8-5 and Keezer and Brown of Marshall 8-0. Cuadra and Akritas lost both rounds of doubles as well to Petrisko and Mauer of Kentucky 8-6 and Pavlin and Brown of Abilene Christian 9-8(7).

The Orange and Blue return to the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Complex on Sunday for one round of singles and one round of doubles.

Saturday's Kentucky Fall Invite Results - Singles
Olga Batsula (ETSU) def. Emily Wang (ILL); 6-5, 7-6, 7-6(10)
Marlene Chemin () def. Shivani Dave' (ILL); 7-6, 7-5
Liis Sober (UK) def. Alejandra Meza Cuadra (ILL); 6-1, 5-7, 7-6(7)
Natalie Beaz (LOU) def. Pavlina Akritas (ILL); 6-1, 6-0

Doubles Sackmaster/Iwinski (UD) def. Wang/Dave' (ILL); 8-5 Keezer/Brown (MAR) def. Wang/Dave' (ILL); 8-0 Petrisko/Mauer (UK) def. Caudra/Akritas (ILL); 8-6 Pavlin/Brown (AC) def. Cuadra/Akritas (ILL); 9-8(7)