March 10, 2006
URBANA, Ill. - The 55th-ranked Illinois women's team earned a hard fought 5-2 victory over 50th-ranked Louisville on "Illini Spirit Night" at Atkins Tennis Center Friday night. The Orange and Blue overcame a hot Louisville team riding a four match win streak and a 2-1 deficit to win 5-2 and snap a five match losing streak. With the win the Illini improve to 5-6 while the Cardinals drop to 13-4.
"First and foremost I am so happy for the team," head coach Sujay Lama said. "They work so hard and do all the right things and it's been tough losing five in a row. Losing gets tiresome, but we stayed positive all week long. This win is huge for our confidence and I'm so proud of the team's resiliency to claw back after losing the doubles point."
The Illlini's 26th-ranked pair of sophomore Macall Harkins and junior Emily Wang improved to 5-3 with their 8-6 victory over Maria Klokotzky and Robyn White on court one.
In singles, Harkins downed Klokotzky 6-4, 6-1 at number one singles to tie the match at one apiece. The Cardinals answered back with a 6-1, 6-4 win from Bianca Gorbea over senior Brianna Knue at number four singles but it was all Illinois from there. Wang snapped a five match losing streak with a 6-4, 7-6(4) win over Suzanna Gracanin. Sophomore Momei Qu soon followed with a 6-2, 2-6, 6-0 victory over White.
With the Illini ahead 3-2, freshman Shivani Davé sealed the home team victory. After dropping her first set 6-2, the Concord, Mass., native responded winning the next two sets 6-2, 6-4 over Natalie Laszkowski on court five.
"This is what I've been waiting for and why I am so excited to play college tennis," Davé said. "It was such a rush to clinch the match and it's really going to help my confidence."
Sophomore Alejandra Meza Cuadra notched the fifth point of the match with her team leading 15th victory of the year, a 6-4, 6-1 win over Natalia Baez at number six singles.
The Orange and Blue have 12 days off before traveling to Los Angeles, Calif., to take on the University of Southern California March 22.
No. 55 Illinois 5, No. 50 Louisville 2
Singles:
1. Macall Harkins (ILL) def. Maria Klokotzky (LOU); 6-4, 6-1
2. Momei Qu (ILL) def. Robyn White (LOU); 6-2, 2-6, 6-0
3. Bianca Gorbea (LOU) def. Brianna Knue (ILL); 6-1, 6-4
4. Emily Wang (ILL) def. Suzanna Gracanin (LOU); 6-4, 7-6(4)
5. Shivani Dave (ILL) def. Natalie Laszkowski (LOU); 2-6, 6-2, 6-4
6. Alejandra Meza Cuadra (ILL) def. Natalie Baez (LOU); 6-4, 6-1
Order of finish: 1, 3, 4, 2, 5, 6
Doubles:
1. Harkins/Wang (ILL) def. Klokotzky/White (LOU); 8-6
2. Baez/Gorbea (LOU) def. Knue/Cuadra (ILL); 8-6
3. Gracanin/Laszkowski (LOU) def Qu/Dave (ILL); 8-6
Order of finish: 2, 1, 3
