Illini Drop Match to Top-Ranked Yellow Jackets

Women's Tennis February 11, 2007

Illini Drop Match to Top-Ranked Yellow Jackets

Feb. 11, 2007

Results

URBANA, Ill. - The Illinois women's tennis team could not top No. 1-ranked Georgia Tech on Sunday afternoon, falling 7-0 at the Atkins Tennis Center. With competitive attitudes and a strong start from the Illini displayed in doubles, the Yellow Jackets were too much in the end for the Orange and Blue to overcome.

"Overall, this weekend we just got outplayed," head coach Michelle Dasso said. "We have played a tough schedule, and down a few people from our lineup, so I don't want the girls to get down on their confidence. We have two weeks before out next match, so we are going to go into practice and continue to improve before we start Big Tens against Purdue. We can learn a lot from these matches, but now it is about forgetting about them and moving on."

The Fighting Illini came out firing at No. 1 and 2 doubles, breaking Georgia Tech to open both matches. Senior Emily Wang and sophomore Bryce Marable (ILL), despite owning an early lead, allowed the duo of Alison Silverio and Tarryn Rudman (GT) to take hold of the match en route to an 8-1 victory. At No. 2 doubles, Shivani Davé and Alejandra Meza Cuadra (ILL) were right in the match until the end against Kirsten Flower and Amanda Craddock (GT). Taking an early 2-0 lead, the Illini pair allowed the Georgia Tech duo to ease back into the contest. Breaking and holding serve to put the pressure back on Flower and Craddock at 7-6, the Yellow Jackets held to claim the 8-6 victory. Junior Momei Qu and freshman Kristina Minor also had chances to take charge in their match at No. 3 doubles, but the pair of Christy Striplin and Amanda McDowell closed the contest strong, winning 8-5.

With a 1-0 lead, Georgia Tech headed into the strongest part of their lineup, as they boasted a singles lineup that included four players ranked in the top-75 nationally.

At No. 6 singles, Wang (ILL) dropped her match to No. 52 Whitney McCray (GT) 6-1, 6-0, to give Georgia Tech a quick 2-0 lead in the dual, while Meza Cuadra (ILL) could not keep her singles success going after a win against No. 25 William & Mary on Friday, dropping her contest to McDowell (GT), 6-2, 6-1, in the No. 5 slot.  The Yellow Jackets went on to seal the dual-match victory with a win at No. 4 singles, as No. 64 Craddock (GT) downed Minor (ILL), 6-3, 6-1.

At No. 3 singles, Marable (ILL) came out slow en route to losing the opening set 6-1 to Rudman (GT). The Illini sophomore, however, regained her composure in the second, cruising 6-2. In the third, Marable would again be plagued by errors, dropping the frame 6-1.In the No. 2 position, Davé (ILL) fought in the first set to level the contest at 3-all. However, Georgia Tech's No. 15 Kristi Miller (GT) would win the final three games to take the opening frame 6-3. In the second, Davé could not keep the intensity up, falling 6-1.

Going down with out a fight, Qu (ILL) took on No. 25 Flower at No. 1 singles. Flower jumped out to an early lead with a 6-1 first set, and looked to be cruising in the second. However, the Illini junior kicked her game into another gear, breaking back to level the match at 4-all.The match ended on Qu's serve, as Flower applied the pressure and broke to seal the straight-sets win, 6-4.

Illinois takes a week off before hitting the courts again, opening Big Ten Conference play against Purdue at home on Friday, Feb. 23, at 6 p.m. at the Atkins Tennis Center. The Illini then close their eight-match home stand with a contest against Washington on Sunday, Feb. 25, at 11 a.m.

TENNIS MATCH RESULTS

GEORGIA TECH VS ILLINOIS

URBANA, ILL.

#1 GEORGIA TECH 7, ILLINOIS 0

Singles competition

1. #25 Kristen Flower (GT) def. Momei Qu (ILL) 6-1, 6-4

2. #15 Kristi Miller (GT) def. Shivani Davé (ILL) 6-3, 6-1

3. Tarryn Rudman (GT) def. Bryce Marable (ILL) 6-0, 2-6, 6-1

4. #64 Amanda Craddock (GT) def. Kristina Minor (ILL) 6-3, 6-1

5. Amanda McDowell (GT) def. Alejandra Meza Cuadra (ILL) 6-2, 6-1

6. #52 Whitney McCray (GT) def. Emily Wang (ILL) 6-1, 6-0

Doubles competition