April 22, 2006
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The Illinois women's tennis program fell to Minnesota 5-2 on Saturday at the Baseline Tennis Center. Illini sophomore Macall Harkins was upset at No. 1, suffering her first conference loss and ending a nine match win streak. The Gophers came from behind in doubles to take the point and continued with four wins in singles. Illinois drops to 7-13 and 2-7 in the Big Ten while Minnesota improves to 5-16 and 2-7 in conference matches.
"The doubles point cost us," head coach Sujay Lama said. "We were serving for the win and we couldn't get it done. Once we were broken the momentum was totally on their side. We had to play catch up the rest of the match. We fought hard but didn't play well. Our execution was not there today. We have a tough Iowa team tomorrow, but while come out with a lot of energy and we'll be ready for them."
The Illini got the first win in doubles behind the play of Alejandra Meza Cuadra and Momei Qu who downed Jane Anderson and Megan Steiger 8-2 at No. 3. Shivani Davé and Brianna Knue were serving for the win but lost their match in a tiebreaker 9-8(4). The Maroon and Gold clinched the point with an 8-6 win from Ida Malmberg and Nischela Reddy over Emily Wang and Harkins.
Illinois began singles play with a straight set win at No. 6. Meza Cuadra did not let Jenna Tellefsen win a game, beating her 6-0, 6-0. The Gophers answered right back as Anderson defeated Dave 6-3, 4-6, 6-0. Danielle Mousseau gave Minnesota a 3-1 lead at No. 3 with a 7-5, 6-2 win over Knue, followed shortly thereafter with Mariana Spilca's dual-clinching 7-5, 6-3 win over Wang at No. 4.
Qu made it 4-2 with her 4-6, 6-0, 6-2 win over Malmberg at No. 2. Reigning Big Ten Player of the Week, Harkins was upset at No. 1 as Reddy beat Illinois' 56th-ranked player 1-6, 7-6(6), 6-1.
The Illini travel to Iowa City where they will take on the Iowa Hawkeyes at 10 a.m.
Minnesota 5, Illinois 2
April 22, 2006
Minneapolis, Minn.
Baseline Tennis Center
Singles :
1. Nischela Reddy (MN) def. #56 Macall Harkins (ILL), 1-6, 7-6 (6), 6-1
2. Momei Qu (ILL) def. Ida Malmberg (MN), 4-6, 6-0, 6-2
3. Danielle Mousseau (MN) def. Brianna Knue (ILL), 7-5, 6-2
4. Mariana Spilca (MN) def. Emily Wang (ILL), 7-5, 6-3
5. Jane Anderson (MN) def. Shivani Dave (ILL), 6-3, 4-6, 6-0
6. Alejandra Meza Cuadra (ILL) def. Jenna Tellefsen (MN), 6-0, 6-0
Order of finish: 6,5,3,4,2,1
Doubles:
1. Malmberg/Reddy (MN) def. Harkins/Wang (ILL), 8-6
2. Mousseau/Spilca (MN) def. Dave/Knue (ILL), 9-8 (4)
3. Meza Cuadra/Qu (ILL) def. Anderson/Steiger (MN), 8-2
Order of finish: 3,1,2
