April 8, 2007
Results
URBANA, Ill. ­- The Illinois women's tennis team fell at the hands of No. 23 Michigan today at the Atkins Tennis Center. Despite the scoreboard's tallies in favor of Michigan, 7-0, the score was not indicative of just how hard the Illini made the Wolverines work for each point.
"I was really proud of how the team fought in singles today," head coach Michelle Dasso said. "After doubles I told the team to go out and there and come back after singles drenched in sweat and our knees bloodied. I told them If we gave that kind of effort, then the results would come. They may not come right away, but we are going to continue to work hard and get better with every match. I was just extremely proud of how the girls never gave up today and came back in their matches."
The loss dropped the Illini to 5-12 on the season, 1-5 in Big Ten action, while the Wolverines improved to 12-5 overall, 6-1 in league affairs.
Michigan reached the scoreboard first as they swept the doubles portion. With solid starts by the Illini on Nos. 1 and 3, the Wolverines turned up their games to steal the final six games on both courts to clinch the first point of the dual, 1-0.
Down in the match, Illinois went to work in singles with the task of coming from behind against the 23rd-ranked team in the nation.
To start things off, Michigan took a 3-0 lead in the match as they registered straight set wins at Nos. 4 and 6 singles. In the four spot, Michigan's Tania Mahtani handed freshman Kristina Minor (ILL) a 6-4, 6-2 loss to start the Wolverine singles sweep. On court six, Wang produced a small come-back in the second set to grab a pair of games in the frame, and in the final deciding game forced three deuces before eventually falling in the match to Allie Shafner (UM, 6-3, 6-2.
Michigan went on to seal the road win after freshman Megan Fudge (ILL) on court one was given a 6-3, 6-0 setback by No. 84 Jenny Kuehn (UM). The contest, though the score would not indicate, was a tight match, as Fudge (ILL) remained in the dual until the end and routinely prolonged points to two or three deuces before they were decided.
Michigan padded its victory when junior Momei Qu (ILL) dropped her match on court two to No. 85 Chisako Sugiyama (UM), 6-0, 7-6(4). The loss proved to be a fan pleaser, as Qu provided a masterful second set against the nationally ranked Wolverine. Forcing the tiebreak after holding serve the entire frame and earning multiple break point chances, Qu pushed Sugiyama to the limit with her defensive play. In the end, Qu fell a few winners short of the match, falling 7-4 in the tiebreaker.
To close the afternoon, despite a heart-felt effort in the second set from Alejandra Meza Cuadra (ILL), the Illini junior could not gut-out the win against Elizabeth Exon, falling 6-2, 7-6(2).
Illinois returns to action next weekend for their final two home matches of the season against Indiana and Ohio State. Indiana kicks off the weekend with that match scheduled for Saturday, April 14, at 11 a.m. (CST), while the Buckeyes' contest will start at 11 a.m. (CST) on Sunday, April 15. Sunday also will serve as senior day for Illinois' lone senior on the team, Wang.
TENNIS MATCH RESULTS
URBANA, Ill.
4/8/2007
#23 MICHIGAN 7, ILLINOIS 0
Singles competition
1. #84 Jenny Kuehn (MICH) def. Megan Fudge (ILL) 6-3, 6-0
2. #85 Chisako Sugiyama (MICH) def. Momei Qu (ILL) 6-0, 7-6 (7-4)
3. Kara Delicata (MICH) def. Shivani Davé (ILL) 6-3, 6-7 (4-7), 1-0 (10-6)
4. Tania Mahtani (MICH) def. Kristina Minor (ILL) 6-4, 6-2
5. Elizabeth Exon (MICH) def. Alejandra Meza Cuadra (ILL), 6-2, 7-6(2)
6. Allie Shafner (MICH) def. Emily Wang (ILL) 6-3, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Jenny Kuehn/Chisako Sugiyama (MICH) def. Emily Wang/Megan Fudge (ILL) 8-1
2. Kara Delicata/Tania Mahtani (MICH) def. Shivani Davé/Alejandra Meza Cuadra (ILL) 8-4
3. Allie Shafner/Lindsey Howard (MICH) def. Kristina Minor/Momei Qu (ILL) 8-2
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (1, 3, 2); Singles (4, 6, 1, 2, 3, 5)
