University of Illinois
ILLINOIS-CHICAGO
Illini Victorious In Doubleheader
February 4, 2006 | Women's Tennis
Feb. 4, 2006
URBANA, Ill. - The Fighting Illini women's tennis team is a perfect 4-0 at home (4-1 overall) after a pair of wins in Saturday's Atkins Tennis Center doubleheader against Illinois State and Illinois-Chicago.
Led by the new duo of sophomore Macall Harkins and junior Emily Wang, the Illini swept their doubles matches with the Redbirds, later losing one of six singles matches for a 6-1 win. Harkins and fellow sophomore Momei Qu each scored 6-0,6-2 defeats at the Nos. 1 and 2 positions. Then came a third win by the same score from yet another sophomore, Alejandra Meza Cuadra. Senior Brianna Knue and freshman Shivani Dave needed three sets to prevail.
"That was one thing that I said after the first match," head coach Sujay Lama said. "Brianna and Shivani didn't play the way they are capable of playing. But it's not about always playing pretty tennis. It's about getting the job done. I'm glad that both of them found a way to get it done when things weren't working for them."
In the day's second match Illinois faced a familiar squad in Illinois-Chicago. Five UIC Flames returned from a singles lineup that dropped a one-point decision to the Illini in 2005. This year's 7-0 tally bore no resemblance. Knue and Wang each won rematches against their prior opponents and all six contests amounted to straight-set triumphs for the home team.
"I think every spot is competing really hard this year. If one person doesn't have a good day there is still a chance to win because everyone is competing. Our bottom half is as competitive as the top half," Lama said.
Illinois will need solid efforts from all positions next weekend. The team travels east to take on its second and third top-25 opponents of the year, No. 20 William and Mary and No. 25 Wake Forest. Wake Forest started Illinois' season with a 5-2 loss last year.
"I just see it as an opportunity. It's not going to be easy," Lama said. "What are we going to do with this opportunity at hand next weekend? I told them we need to pick it up a notch, especially on the road against top-25 teams. Hopefully we have improved to the point where now we are ready to take that opportunity.
Saturday's results
at Atkins Tennis Center
Illinois 6, Illinois State 1
Doubles: 1. Macall Harkins/Emily Wang (Ill.) def. Katri Miller/Carolyne Parent (ISU) 8-1 2. Brianna Knue/Alejandra Meza Cuadra (Ill.) def. Veronique Parke-Bedard/Ashley Maxwell (ISU) 8-5 3.Momei Qu/Shivani Davé (Ill.) def. Nicole Schneider/Matea Simovic (ISU) 8-4
Order of finish - 1, 3, 2 Singles: 1. Macall Harkins (Ill.) def. Katri Miller (ISU) 6-0,6-2 2. Momei Qu (Ill.) def. Emilie Sechaud (ISU) 6-0,6-2 3. Brianna Knue (Ill.) def. Veronique Parke-Bedard (ISU) 6-4,2-6,10-8 4. Carolyne Parent (ISU) def. Emily Wang (Ill.) 5-7,6-3,10-4 5. Shivani Davé (Ill.) def. Nicole Schneider (ISU) 4-6,6-3,10-6 6. Alejandra Meza Cuadra (Ill.) def. Megan Rozboril (ISU) 6-0,6-2
Order of finish - 1,2,6,3,4,5
Illinois 7, Illinois-Chicago 0
Doubles: 1. Macall Harkins/Emily Wang (Ill.) def. Callan Smith/Corey Steven (UIC) 8-2 2. Brianna Knue/Alejandra Meza Cuadra (Ill.) def. Iris Jaklin/Christina Oum (UIC) 8-4 3. Momei Qu/Shivani Davé (Ill.) def. Grace Gil-Morlis/Molly Smith (UIC) 8-2
Order of finish - 1, 3, 2
Singles: 1. Macall Harkins (Ill.) def. Callan Smith (UIC) 6-0,6-2 2. Momei Qu (Ill) def. Iris Jaklin (UIC) 6-1,6-1 3. Brianna Knue (Ill.) def. Corey Steven (UIC) 6-2,6-0 4. Emily Wang (Ill.) def. Molly Smith (UIC) 6-3,6-2 5. Shivani Davé (Ill.) def. Grace Gil-Morlis (UIC) 6-1,6-1 6. Alejandra Meza Cuadra (Ill.) def. Christina Oum (UIC) 6-2,6-0
Order of finish - 2, 1, 5, 3, 4, 6
