Jan. 15, 2006

MIAMI, Fla. - The 53rd-ranked Illini wrapped up the FIU Invite on Sunday with a match against No. 45 South Florida. The Illini continued to struggle in doubles losing all three matches and only winning two singles tilts. The three-day tournament was conducted in a hidden dual format where no team scores are allotted and results only count for individual records.

Junior Emily Wang and sophomore Momei Qu faced the nation's fifth ranked doubles team of Gabriela Duch and Neyssa Etienne. Wang and Qu lost to the Bulls top team 8-1.

Sophomore Alejandra Meza Cuadra got her second victory of the three-day tournament with a 2-6, 6-4 (10-7) defeat of Iciri Rai.

The Orange and Blue begin the dual match season Friday at the Atkins Tennis Center against Marquette. First serve is at 6 p.m.

FIU Invite Day Three Results
Doubles
1. #5 Gabriela Duch/Neyssa Etienne (USF) def. Emily Wang/Momei Qu (ILL), 8-1
2. Liz Cruz/Iciri Rai (USF) def. Alejandra Meza Cuadra/Shivani Davé (ILL), 8-4
3. Courtney Vernon/Luisa Obando (USF) def. Anastasia Sokolova/Brianna Knue (ILL), 8-1

Singles
1. Neyssa Etienne (USF) def. Qu (ILL), 7-5, 6-1
2. Courtney Vernon (USF) def. Knue (ILL), 6-2, 6-2
3. #96 Liz Cruz (USF) def. Davé (ILL), 6-4, 6-2
4. Gabriela Duch (USF) def. Wang (ILL), 6-4, 6-1
5. Meza Cuadra (ILL) def. Iciri Rai (USF), 2-6, 6-4 (10-7)
6. Pavlina Akritas (ILL) def. Luisa Obando (USF), 6-4, ret.