University of Illinois
PENN STATE
Fighting Illini Get Past Penn State, Look To Indiana
March 26, 2005 | Women's Tennis
March 26, 2005
The 51st-ranked Illinois women's tennis team had not played a dual match in three weeks, and they weren't at full strength, but they managed to defeat Big Ten foe Penn State, 5-2, this afternoon at the UI Atkins Tennis Center.
Sophomore Emily Wang strained her right knee on Monday in warm-ups while the team was competing against Georgia Tech during their spring break trip to Florida. According to Coach Sujay Lama, her condition is "day-to-day.
With Wang out of the lineup, junior Pavlina Akritas filled in with partner Cynthya Goulet, and the duo competed at No. 2, instead of the No. 1 spot where Goulet and Wang usually play. Brianna Knue and Macall Harkins moved up from No. 2 to No. 1. Both tandems responded with victories today, earning Illinois the doubles point. Knue and Harkins won, 8-6, and Goulet and Akritas sailed, 8-2.
"Cynthya is one of the best doubles players I have ever coached," said Lama. "Whoever plays with her just has to cover the basics. They did a good job today. I was disappointed with our No. 3 doubles team (Momei Qu and Anastasia Sokolova); they committed a number of unforced errors. Still, it was good to get the doubles point, because it takes a lot of the pressure off of singles."
Goulet, the only ranked player on the court today (No. 59), put the Illini up, 2-0, with her quick disposal of Penn State's No. 1 player, Maaria Husain. The Nittany Lions narrowed the gap when Jenny Schular defeated Akritas in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2. Knue prevented the tie when she posted a 6-2, 6-4 win at No. 4 over Katelyn Bevard. Then it was Qu who clinched the match for the Orange and Blue with her 6-4, 6-2 decision over Sasha Abraham at No. 3. Harkins' three-set victory in the No. 2 slot, the only extended match of the day, a 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 verdict, pushed the margin to 5-1 before Penn State captured the No. 5 match to provide the final margin. In that contest, Andreea Niculescu was the winner over Alejandra Cuadra.
"Even though Alejandra didn't win today, she showed improvement," said Lama, "and Brianna played well in her victory. That should be a boost to her confidence.
"Pavlina was simply overmatched. Normally at No. 6, you don't draw an opponent with a powerful forehand, but that's what happened there--it was just a matchup problem. The top of our lineup has been playing well all season. Cynthya has been outstanding, just as she was today. Macall and Momei didn't play their best today, but they both found ways to win, which is so important."
With the victory, the Illini boosted their season record to 8-5; they are 2-0 in Big Ten play going into tomorrow's showdown with Indiana. Lama will have no trouble getting his team ready to play the Hoosiers. It was IU that beat Illinois in a close match at Bloomington to knock the visitors out of first place in the Big Ten the last day of the regular season in 2004.
"We will definitely have to step it up tomorrow. Indiana is a very good team. Both teams will be ready to go; I think it will be a great match."
SATURDAY'S RESULTS:
At #51 Illinois 5, Penn State 2
DOUBLES: 1 Brianna Knue/Macall Harkins (ILL) def. Sarah Spence/Maaria Husain (PSU) 8-6 2 Cynthya Goulet/Pavlina Akritas (ILL) def. Jenny Schular/Sasha Abraham (PSU) 8-2 3 Andreea Niculescu/Jessica McKeown (PSU) def. Anastasia Sokolova/Momei Qu ILL) 8-3
SINGLES: 1 #59 Cynthya Goulet (ILL) Maaria Husain (PSU) 6-1, 6-0 2 Macall Harkins (ILL) Sarah Spence (PSU) 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 3 Momei Qu (ILL) def. Sasha Abraham (PSU) 6-4, 6-2 4 Brianna Knue (ILL) def. Katelyn Bevard (PSU) 6-2, 6-4 5 Andreea Niculescu (PSU) def. Alejandra Cuadra (ILL) 6-4, 7-5 6 Jenny Schular (PSU) def. Pavlina Akritas(ILL) 6-3, 6-2
