April 1, 2007

Results

MADISON, Wis.  ­- The Illinois women's tennis team notched a long overdue conference win, earning its first league victory when it downed Wisconsin, 4-3, today at the Nielsen Tennis Stadium in Madison. The Illini, despite dropping the doubles point, fought back in singles to down the Badgers and improve to 5-10 on the year, 1-3 in Big Ten, while Wisconsin dropped to 3-13 overall, 0-7 in conference tilts.

 

"I am really excited about getting our first Big Ten victory today," head coach Michelle Dasso said. "It was not a positive to lose the doubles point, but it was a great sign of our team's determination as the girls showed they could come back in singles. This gives us a lot of confidence to know that we have the ability to come back after losing the doubles point. "

 

Illinois jumped out to a quick start in doubles, as junior Momei Qu and Kristina Minor blanked Wisconsin's Chelsea Nusslock and Morgan Tuttle, 8-0, on court three. However, it was the Badgers down the stretch who closed the doubles portion with two straight wins at No. 2 and 1 to take a 1-0 lead into singles. The Badgers, who came back from a 5-2 deficit at the deciding match at No. 1 doubles, were able to win six of the last seven points of the set to defeat Illinois' freshman Megan Fudge and senior Emily Wang, 8-6.

 

Wisconsin padded its lead with a win on court one of singles before Qu (ILL) put the Illini on the board after defeating Kaylan Caiati (WIS), 6-2, 6-0. Minor then tied the contest when she dismissed Nusslock on court four, 6-1, 6-2.

 

From there, the Illini seemed to be coasting as all there matches left on court had an Illini netter up a set or up in their respective frames. Pulling Illinois within one win of the dual victory, sophomore Shivani Davé pulled out a close first set against Elizabeth Carpenter (WIS), 7-6(4), but would take control from there are she sailed through the second, 6-1.

 

Clinching the win just moments later, junior Alejandra Meza Cuadra upended UW's Erin Jobe, 6-4, 6-2.

 

Illinois will return home for a four-match home stand, hosting a slue of conference opponents when they welcome on Saturday, April 7, Penn State before closing the weekend on Sunday, April 8, against Michigan. Both matches are slated for a noon start at the Atkins Tennis Center in Urbana.

 

TENNIS MATCH RESULTS

MADISON, WIS.

4/1/2007

ILLINOIS 4, WISCONSIN 3

 

Singles competition

1. #18 Caitlin Burke (WIS) def. Megan Fudge (ILL) 6-1, 6-0

2. Momei Qu (ILL) def. Kaylan Caiati (WIS) 6-2, 6-0

3. Shivani Dave (ILL) def. Elizabeth Carpenter (WIS) 7-6 (7-4), 6-1

4. Kristina Minor (ILL) def. Chelsea Nusslock (WIS) 6-1, 6-2

5. Alejandra Meza Cuadra (ILL) def. Erin Jobe (WIS) 6-4, 6-2

6. Morgan Tuttle (WIS) def. Emily Wang (ILL) 3-6, 6-4, 6-1

 

Doubles competition

1. Caitlin Burke/Elizabeth Carpenter (WIS) def. Megan Fudge/Emily Wang (ILL) 8-6

2. Kaylan Caiati/Nicole Beck (WIS) def. Shivani Dave/Alejandra Meza Cuadra (ILL) 8-3

3. Kristina Minor/Momei Qu (ILL) def. Chelsea Nusslock/Morgan Tuttle (WIS) 8-0

 

Match Notes:

Illinois 5-10, 1-3 Big Ten

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