Feb. 4, 2007

Results

URBANA, Ill. ­- The Illinois women's tennis team was all business in its match today against Illinois-Chicago at the Atkins Tennis Center. The Illini (2-2) seemed to be unstoppable, winning the doubles point without dropping a match before they cruised to straight-set victories at No. 1-6 singles to wrap up a solid day on the courts.

 

"Today was a huge boost and confidence builder" head coach Michelle Dasso said about the win. "With our top-two players out, everyone had to move up in the lineup and step up their games. As a coach, it is always a huge positive when everyone wins. I am also very proud of the team's attitude. Even when they were down in their individual matches, they stayed positive and pulled out the win. Today was all about a team effort down to the last singles match."

 

Kicking off the match on the right foot, the Illini swept through doubles action. At No. 1 doubles, senior Emily Wang and sophomore Bryce Marable (ILL) took down Callan Smith and Lubica Nadasska (UIC), 8-4, while in the No. 2 spot, sophomore Shivani Davé and junior Alejandra Meza Cuadra went the distance in their 9-8(5) win over Christina Oum and Ulrikke Von Ubisch (UIC). Cruising to a victory at No. 3 doubles, junior Momei Qu and freshman Kristina Minor (ILL) downed Grace Gill-Morlis and Jenna Reisch (UIC), 8-3.

 

Picking up where they left off, the Orange and Blue began work in singles, easily handling their Flames opponents across the board. As a whole the Illini did not drop a set en route to the team victory.

 

In her first dual singles match of the year, Wang (ILL) at No. 6 singles was in cruise control for most of her match, as she bageled Reisch (UIC) in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0. Moving right along in her match, Qu (ILL) at No. 1 singles moved Nadasska (UIC) all around the court in her straight sets win. The junior was over-powered by her Flames opponent, but her shot selection and on-the-dime placement prevailed in the end, 6-3, 6-1.

 

Keeping the Illini dominance intact, Davé (ILL) easily handled Von Ubisch in straights. Coming out strong from the opening serve, the Concord, Mass., native was in control from beginning to end in the 6-1, 6-2 victory. With the win, Davé clinched the dual match for Illinois.

 

Meza Cuadra (ILL) came out a little flat in her match against Oum (UIC), but recovered to clinch the opening set 6-4. From there, the Lima, Peru native had the contest on her racquet, striking winners from both sides and forcing errors en route to a 6-4, 6-0 win at No. 5 singles.

 

At No. 4 singles, Minor (ILL) looked like a veteran in her matchup against Gill-Morlis (UIC). Using a big first serve and clean ground-strokes, the lone freshman in the lineup never trailed on her way to a 6-2, 6-3 victory. Completing the Fighting Illini sweep, Marable (ILL) at No. 2 singles, who as plagued by errors in the opening frame, cleaned up her swing on both sides to down Smith (UIC) 7-5, 6-2 to close out the afternoon.

 

The Illini will be back in action when they take on No. 25 William & Mary on Friday, Feb. 9, at 6 p.m., followed by a match against No. 6 Georgia Tech on Sunday, Feb. 11 at 11 a.m.

 

Tennis Match Results

Illinois-Chicago vs. Illinois

Urbana, Ill.

Illinois 7, Illinois-Chicago 0

 

Singles competition

1. Momei Qu (ILL) def. Lubica Nadasska (UIC) 6-3, 6-1

2. Bryce Marable (ILL) def. Callan Smith (UIC) 7-5, 6-2

3. Shivani Davé (ILL) def. Ulrikke von Ubisch (UIC) 6-1, 6-2

4. Kristina Minor (ILL) def. Grace Gill-Morlis (UIC) 6-2, 6-3

5. Alejandra Meza Cuadra (ILL) def. Christina Oum (UIC) 6-4, 6-0

6. Emily Wang (ILL) def. Jenna Reisch (UIC) 6-0, 6-0

 

Doubles competition:

1. Bryce Marable/Emily Wang (ILL) def. Callan Smith/Lubica Nadasska (UIC) 8-4

2. Alejandra Meza Cuadra/Shivani Davé (ILL) def.

    Christina Oum/Ulrikke von Ubisch (UIC) 9-8 (7-5)

3. Kristina Minor/Momei Qu (ILL) def. Grace Gill-Morlis/Jenna Reisch (UIC) 8-3

 

Match Notes:

Order of finish: Doubles (1, 3, 2); Singles (6, 1, 3, 5, 4, 2)