Nov. 10, 2006
SOUTH BEND, Ind. ­- The Illinois women's tennis team opened the Notre Dame Invitational with mixed results, going 4-3 in singles and 1-2 in doubles during the first day of action in South Bend on Friday, Nov. 10. Freshman Megan Fudge, junior Alejandra Meza Cuadra, sophomore Shivani Davé and junior Momei Qu each notched wins in singles, while the tandem of Fudge and freshman Leigh Finnegan tallied the Illini's only doubles win on the day.
The three-day event includes competitors from DePaul, Illinois, Notre Dame and Western Michigan at the Eck Tennis Center on the campus of Notre Dame University. Over the course of the weekend, each student-athlete will compete in one singles and one doubles match each day.
On day one, Fudge took care of Kerstin Pahl of Western Michigan, 6-4, 7-6, while Davé dismissed Norika Saruta of Western Michigan, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(5), in her opening match. Qu cruised through her match against Anja Mihaldine of DePaul, bageling her opponent, 6-0, 6-0, while Meza Cuadra wrapped up the Illini in the winning column, taking care of Milica Zivanovic of Western Michigan, 6-0, 7-5.
Finnegan, despite evening the affair after dropping the first set, could not closeout the comeback against Dunja Antunovic of DePaul, falling 6-3, 3-6, 6-2. Minor, who jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in her match against Priyanka Parekh of Western Michigan, allowed the WMU netter back into the match and eventually dropped the contest 3-6, 7-5, 6-2. Senior Emily Wang rounded out the Illini in action, losing to Emily Dudzik of Western Michigan, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.
In doubles, Fudge and Finnegan defeated Dudzik and Carrie Jeanmaire of Western Michigan, 8-5, Parekh and Saruta downed Meza Cuadra and Minor, 8-1, and Kali Krisik and Katie Potts of Notre Dame defeated Davé and Qu, 8-0.
Illinois continues action at the Eck Tennis Center on Saturday, Nov. 11. For complete coverage of the Illini at the Notre Dame Invitational, visit www.fightingillini.com at the conclusion of the day's action.
NOTRE DAME RESULTS
Friday, Nov. 11
SINGLES
Megan Fudge (ILL) def. Kerstin Pahl (WMU); 6-4, 7-6
Dunja Antunovic (DePaul) def. Leigh Finnegan (ILL); 6-3, 3-6, 6-2
Shivani Davé (ILL) def. Norika Saruta (WMU); 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(5)
Momei Qu (ILL) def. Anja Mihaldine (DePaul); 6-0, 6-0
Priyanka Parekh (WMU) def. Kristina Minor (ILL); 3-6, 7-5, 6-2
Emily Dudzik (WMU) def. Emily Wang (ILL); 3-6, 6-2, 6-4
Alejandra Meza Cuadra (ILL) def. Milica Zivanovic (WMU); 6-0, 7-5
DOUBLES
Priyanka Parekh/Norika Saruta (WMU) def. Meza Cuadra/Minor; 8-1
Fudge/Finnegan (ILL) def. Emily Dudzik/Carrie Jeanmaire (WMU); 8-5
Kali Krisik/Katie Potts (ND) def. Davé/Qu (ILL); 8-0
-ILLINI-
