March 27, 2005

Freshman Momei Qu won her 14th match of the season and senior Cynthya Goulet claimed her 21st victory, but Illinois could not capitalize Sunday on its home court. Instead, this year's Illinois-Indiana score read the same as last year's 4-3 Orange and Blue defeat.

"It was a typical Big Ten match. They all seem to go wire to wire," Illini Head Coach Sujay Lama said. "Our kids wanted it badly."

Junior Pavlina Akritas, who earlier this season secured her team's final point against Illinois State, could not duplicate her performance against the Hoosiers' Cecile Perton.

"(Perton) played aggressive to win. Pavlina played tentative, got off to a bad start and had to catch up. She just fell short by a little," Lama said.

For the first time this season, Lama said the Illinois doubles parings looked "out of sync. Part of it is the fact that we used two fairly new teams. Three or four starters are freshman. They are still learning what it's all about," Lama said.

Goulet and Akritas had their debut Saturday; Qu and Cuadra are freshmen and have played three matches together but none since Feb. 6. The lineup changes were necessitated because of Emily Wang's unavailability due to a knee injury she suffered last Monday.

Swept for the first time in doubles this season, the Fighting Illini fought back from the 1-0 deficit to tie the score at 3. Qu beat Laura McGaffigan in three sets, 3-6, 6-0, 6-4. Junior Brianna Knue won her ninth match of the year and second of the weekend in three sets, besting Dominika Walterova 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.

"We knew we had a hole. We had to play well and we did that," Lama said. But just like the five previous 4-3 outcomes, it was a matter of gripping the opportunity.

"All of those matches we've had chances to win," Lama said. When you have opportunities, you have to go out there and take it."

With the loss, the Fighting Illini fell to 8-6 on the season, 2-1 in Big Ten play. Indiana moved to 3-0 in the conference and 9-7 overall. Illinois hits the road next weekend, taking on Ohio State in Columbus Saturday before returning home for matches with Michigan State and Michigan State April 9-10, respectively.

SUNDAY'S RESULTS:
#43 Indiana 4 at #51 Illinois 3

DOUBLES:
1  Dominika Walterova/Sarah Batty (IND) def. Brianna Knue/Macall Harkins (ILL)          8-4
2  Laura McGaffigan/Brianna Williams (IND) def. Cynthya Goulet/Pavlina Akritas (ILL)  8-3
3  Cecile Perton/Dora Vastag (IND) def. Alejandra Cuadra/Momei Qu (ILL)          8-4

SINGLES: 1 #59 Cynthya Goulet (ILL) def. Dora Vastag (IND) 6-1, 6-4 2 Sarah Batty (IND) def. Macall Harkins (ILL) 6-3, 6-1 3 Momei Qu (ILL) def. Laura McGaffigan (IND) 3-6, 6-0, 6-4 4 Brianna Knue (ILL) def. Dominika Walterova (IND) 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 5 Brianna Williams (IND) def. Alejandra Cuadra (ILL) 6-0, 6-3 6 Cecile Perton (IND) def. Pavlina Akritas (ILL) 1-6, 6-4, 6-2