April 2, 2006

URBANA, Ill. - Macall Harkins won her fifth consecutive match and Shivani Davé prevailed in a three-set match, but No. 70 Illinois still lost 5-2 to No. 69 Ohio State on Sunday afternoon at the Atkins Tennis Center.

Sophomores Momei Qu and Alejandra Meza Cuadra found themselves behind Ohio State juniors Ciara Finucane and Kristin Messmer early in the match on court three, and the Orange and Blue duo never recovered, losing 8-2.

Harkins and senior Brianna Knue managed four games in the first position facing sophomore Caitin O'Keefe and freshman Julie Blackmore, and Davé and junior Emily Wang came closer yet, but still lost to junior Sonia Ruzimovsky and freshman Angie DiPastina 8-6.

"We could not get it going. In doubles we were always down. That has been the story all year long - we can't get it done in doubles," head coach Sujay Lama said. "A couple of kids on Ohio State really stepped it up."

Singles play featured a pair of rematches stemming from the teams' first meeting in the Kentucky Fall Classic. Meza Cuadra lost the first singles match to DiPastina in what was almost an inverse of the players' earlier meeting, a 6-4,6-0 Illini triumph. Davé needed an extra set than what the fall contest required but remained perfect against Messmer.

"I was really happy to see Shivani win her match," Lama said. "Mentally she was a lot more poised and she stayed calm. She wasn't too emotional. I think that's what got her through. That was as poised as I've seen her all year long"

Meanwhile, Harkins played steadily at No. 1 against Ruzimovsky and has now surpassed five straight opponents. The streak is the team's longest since Qu put together nine victories in succession late last season and All-Big Ten star Cynthya Goulet stayed unblemished through a stretch of 12 matches.

"(Harkins) is having a phenomenal run. She is really improving each day. Not just each match but every day in practice," Lama said. "With her style, confidence is a huge asset. She is also really developing into the complete player. She's comfortable playing at the baseline, at the net and rallying. She's not one dimensional any more."

Each of Sunday's other singles matches amounted to straight-set victories for the Buckeyes who appeared unaffected by Saturday's 6-1 loss at Purdue and undaunted by their current schedule that includes six matches in eight days.

Next the Illini travel to The Great Lakes State to face the Michigan State Spartans and the Michigan Wolverines on Saturday and Sunday.

# 69 Ohio State 5, #70 Illinois 2

Singles

1. Macall Harkins (ILL) def. Sonia Ruzimovsky (OSU); 6-1, 6-3
2. Caitlin O'Keefe (OSU) def. Momei Qu (ILL); 6-4, 7-5
3. Julie Blackmore (OSU) def. Brianna Knue (ILL); 6-0, 6-4
4. Ciara Finucane (OSU) def. Emily Wang (ILL); 6-2, 6-1
5. Shivani Dave (ILL) def. Kristin Messmer (OSU); 4-6,7-5, 1-0(7)
6. Angela DiPastina OSU) def. Alejandra Meza Cuadra (ILL); 6-2, 6-0
Order of Finish: 6, 1, 4, 3, 2, 5

Doubles

1. O'Keefe/Blackmore (OSU) def. Harkins/Knue (ILL); 8-4
2. DiPastina/Ruzimovsky (OSU) def. Dave/Wang (ILL); 8-6
3. Finucane/Messmer (OSU) def. Meza Cuadra/Qu (ILL); 8-2
Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2