University of Illinois
WISCONSIN
Illini Win Fifth Consecutive Senior Day Match
April 16, 2006 | Women's Tennis
April 16, 2006
URBANA, Ill. - Overcome by tears, Brianna Knue could not finish her Senior Day speech. Overwhelmed by Knue's play, Wisconsin's Nicole Beck could not manage more than three games against the senior who led Illinois to a 4-3 win on Sunday afternoon at the Atkins Tennis Center.
"It was a little windy so I was struggling in the beginning with my serve," Knue said. "I think overall I played pretty consistent and lot more consistent then she did. I'm definitely playing better."
The singles triumph was the captain's second against a Wisconsin opponent this season. Knue defeated Chelsea Nusslock 6-0, 6-2 in November when the Badgers came to the Atkins Tennis Center for the Midwest Blast.
Five months later, paired with freshman Shivani Davé, Knue seized her second doubles match against the Red and White, an 8-5 decision vs. Morgan Tuttle and Nusslock.
"It still hasn't set in. (Senior Day) is bittersweet because we still have the Big Ten tournament at home," Knue said. "It has been an honor to play here for four years and to wear the Orange and Blue. I've loved every second of it. It has all been worth it. It is going to be hard to leave here."
Knue's former doubles partner, sophomore Macall Harkins, dropped her doubles match with junior Emily Wang and started slowly individually but clinched the match and furthered her nine-match win streak with a 7-5, 6-0 victory over Wisconsin's Kaylan Caiti.
"My match didn't go as well as I thought because of the wind and I wasn't playing my best tennis. I think I got the hang of it in the end," Harkins said. "After I won the first set I gained a little confidence and I just got it together in the second set to finish it off."
Although senior Pavlina Akritas could not play Sunday because of a knee injury, the Cyprus native has no regrets.
"I am disappointed that I couldn't hit any balls, but what can you do? The most important thing is that the team won," Akritas said.
This year Senior Day is not the final match for Knue and Akritas. The Illini host the Big Ten Tournament in two weeks. First the team concludes the season at Minnesota and Iowa next weekend.
Sunday's results
Illinois 4, Wisconsin 3
Doubles:
1. Kaylan Caiti/Elizabeth Carpenter (UW) def. No. 41 Macall Harkins/Emily Wang (ILL) 8-1
2. Shivani Davé/Brianna Knue (ILL) def. Morgan Tuttle/Chelsea Nusslock (UW) 8-5
3. Nicole Beck/Erin Jobe (UW) def. Alejandra Meza Cuadra/Momei Qu (ILL) 8-4
Singles:
1. No. 95 Macall Harkins (ILL) def. Kaylan Caiti (UW) 7-5, 6-0
2. Chelsea Nusslock (UW) def. Momei Qu (ILL) 6-3, 6-2
3. Brianna Knue (ILL) def. Nicole Beck (UW) 6-2, 6-1
4. Elizabeth Carpenter (UW) def. Emily Wang (ILL) 6-2, 7-5
5. Shivani Davé (ILL) def. Morgan Tuttle (UW) 6-0, 6-4
6. Alejandra Meza Cuadra (ILL) def. Lexi Goldin (UW) 6-0, 6-1
