Oct. 19, 2007
Official ITA Midwest Regional Tournament Web Site
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Sophomore Kristina Minor and freshman Marisa Lambropoulos highlighted the Illinois women's tennis team's efforts at the 2007 Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Midwest Regionals today on the campus of the University of Michigan. The two Illini went a combined 4-0 in singles qualifying to move one win away from a main draw appearance, with that match scheduled to be played on Friday along with two rounds of the doubles main draw.
"I was so proud of Kristina and Marisa's performances today," head coach Michelle Dasso said. "Today marked the first official singles match Kristina has played all fall due to an ankle sprain earlier in the season. She played the two best consecutive singles matches of her Illinois career. She had a total of 13 aces in her two matches, constructed solid points and stayed composed and positive with herself. Marisa battled through two tough, three-set matches and showed the spunk and athleticism that makes her so fun to watch."
Minor returned to the singles stage with a fire under her racquet, as she stormed through her first two matches with straight set victories. The wins included an opening-round win over Kelly Stadum of Wisconsin-Green Bay, 6-2, 6-3, before cruising by Kelcy Jakupcin of Bowling Green, 6-4, 6-4.
Lambropoulos proved her perseverance in her two matches, fighting through back-to-back three-setters, first moving past Maha Guirguis of Toledo, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1. With two strong sets to finish off her opening-round match, Lambropoulos had to dig deep again, pushing her second match to the limit before prevailing in a 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 victory over Megan Martzolf of Miami (Ohio).
Minor is now set to face Tanyaradzwa Gombera of Akron, while Lambropoulos will take on Kirsten Gambrell of DePaul in her final match of qualifying. Action starts at 9 a.m. at the Varsity Tennis Courts tomorrow.
In other action, freshman Annie McCarthy suffered a first-round blow in the qualifying bracket, but responded with a win over Jessica Young of Iowa, 6-3, 7-5, in the consolation bracket. Rounding out the Illini, freshman Candy Graetz went 0-2 in her first Midwest Regional appearance, while redshirt freshman Leigh Finnegan suffered a minor leg injury that forced her to pullout of her singles match, as she was leading 4-3 before her retirement.
For continued coverage of the 2007 Wilson/ITA Midwest Regionals, fans can visit www.itatennis.com or mgoblue.com for live scoring and results throughout the tournament, while a full recap of each day's action for the Illini will be available at www.fightingillini.com.
ILLINOIS DAY ONE RESULTS
First Round - Qualifying Singles
Véronique Parke Bédard (ISU) def. Annie McCarthy (ILL) - 7-6(3), 6-3
Kristina Minor (ILL) def. Kelly Stadum (UW-GB) - 6-2, 6-3
Marisa Lambropoulos (ILL) def. Maha Guirguis (TOL) - 4-6, 6-3, 6-1
Sandra Wikstrom (EMU) def. Leigh Finnegan (ILL) - 3-4 ret.
Ilinca Cristescu (UIC) def. Candy Graetz (ILL) - 6-3, 6-1
Consolation Matches - Qualifying Singles
Annie McCarthy (ILL) def. Jessica Young (IOWA) - 6-3, 7-5
Kara Courtney (XU) def. Candy Graetz (ILL) - 5-7, 6-3, 1-0(5)
Second Round - Qualifying Singles
Kristina Minor (ILL) def. Kelcy Jakupcin (BG) - 6-4, 6-4
Marisa Lambropoulos (ILL) def. Megan Martzolf (MIA) - 7-5, 3-6, 6-2
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Friday, Oct. 19
8:30 a.m. -- Final round of singles qualifying
2 p.m. -- First and second rounds of doubles main draw
Saturday, Oct. 20
9 a.m. -- Third round of doubles main draw
Followed by -- First and second rounds of singles main draw
Sunday, Oct. 21
9 a.m. -- Quarterfinal and semifinal rounds of doubles main draw
Not before 1 p.m. -- Third round of singles main draw
Monday, Oct. 22
9 a.m. -- Doubles main draw championship match
11 a.m. -- Singles main draw quarterfinals
2 p.m. -- Singles main draw semifinals
Tuesday, Oct. 23
10 a.m. -- Singles main draw championship match
