Nov. 3, 2007
BOSTON - The Illinois women's tennis team concluded a successful first day at the Harvard Invitational in Boston on the campus of Harvard University. Overall, the Illini went 8-3 on the day, including a 3-1 mark in singles and a 5-2 ledger in doubles action.
"I couldn't have been more proud of our girl's effort and performance today," head coach Michelle Dasso. "First off, it was such a lift to have Leigh Finnegan back on the court. Although she did not come away with a win, her presence did not go unnoticed."
Key efforts included the Illini going a perfect 3-0 in three-set matches, as junior Shivani Davé, sophomore Kristina Minor and freshman Marisa Lambropoulos all notched three-set wins. In doubles, the Illini dominated the table as both freshman Megan Fudge and Leigh Finnegan joined forces to toss in 8-4 and 8-3 match victories.
In spirited fights for the Illini, Lambropoulos and Minor turned in the most exciting singles matches for UI on the day, as they both battled to 13-11 wins in match tiebreaks in their respective matches. For Lambropoulos, after dropping the first set 6-4 to Julia Roach of NC State, she returned to form to claim a 7-5 second and then the third by the narrowest of margins.
Minor tossed in a nail biter of her own, taking the opening frame 6-3 before Catherine Grotz of North Carolina State responded with a 6-4 second set victory. However, Minor did not toss in the towel, as she held on to seal the win.
"We won all four of our three-set singles matches today, which shows poise and determination among our team," Dasso said. "Marisa, Kristina, Shivani, and Annie came away with victories in their 10 point breakers in the third set and showed signs of such growth."
In doubles, the duo of Finnegan and Fudge led the way with a 2-0 mark, while freshman Annie McCarthy and Davé also tossed in a pair of victories as well.
Play continues tomorrow at the Murr Center Tennis Courts, as the Illini continue with singles and doubles competition.
A full recap of Illinois' matches will be available at the official home of Fighting Illini athletics, www.fightingillini.com, at the end of each day's action. Tournament scores and results also can be found at www.gocrimson.com
ILLINOIS HARVARD INVITATIONAL SCORES
Singles
Marisa Lambropoulos (ILL) def. Julia Roach (UNC) 4-6, 7-5, 13-11
Kristina Minor (ILL) def. Catherine Grotz (NCST) - 6-3, 4-6, 13-11
Shivani Davé (ILL) def. Kristen Bleakley (NCST) - 4-6, 6-4, 10-6
Annie McCarthy (ILL) def. Nells Barringer (NCST) - 6-7(3), 6-3, 10-6
Lenka Hojckova (UNC) def. Leigh Finnegan (ILL) - 6-4, 6-3
Doubles
Marisa Lambropoulos/Kristina Minor (ILL) def. Agnes Sibilski/Elizabeth Brook (HARV) - 8-4
Megan Fudge/Leigh Finnegan (ILL) def. Samantha Rosekrans/ Stephanie Schniter (HARV) - 8-4
Megan Fudge/Leigh Finnegan (ILL) def. Julia Roach/Lenka Hojckova (NCST) - 8-3
Annie McCarthy/Shivani Davé (ILL) def. Eunice Lee/Catriona Stewart (HARV) - 8-3
Annie McCarthy/Shivani Davé (ILL) def. Margarita Krivitski/Rachel Gottlieb (HAR) - 8-1
Neils Barringer/Kristen Bleakley (NCST) def. Marisa Lambropoulos/Kristina Minor (ILL) - 9-7
Anna Blagdoravo/Tiffany Clifford (Texas A&M) def. Christine Stromberg/Candy Graetz (ILL) - 9-7
