Jan. 13, 2008
Box Score | Spring Training Trip - Gallery 2 
BOCA RATON, Fla. - The Illinois women's tennis team opened the season with a bang, sweeping Florida Atlantic on the road, 7-0, to wrap up a successful Spring Training Trip in Florida. The Illini, who debuted its two new freshman faces in Marisa Lambropoulos and Annie McCarthy, came out strong from the get go in doubles before sealing the sweep with straight-set victories on all six singles courts.
"A win to start the season is always great," head coach Michelle Dasso said about the effort. "We had three girls compete in their first dual matches of their career in Leigh, Marisa and Annie, and I thought they did a great job of composing themselves and going out there and getting the win."
The freshman pair of Lambropoulos and McCarthy (ILL) started things off for the Illini at No. 2 doubles, taking down the Owl's Pia Terol and Natalia Totevska, 8-2. Sophomore Megan Fudge and redshirt freshman Leigh Finnegan (ILL), who was making her dual debut after sitting out last spring due to an injury, wrapped up the doubles point for Illinois as they notched an 8-4 victory at No. 1 doubles over Elodie Wendling and Hannah Findlay (FAU). In the third slot, junior Shivani Davé and senior Momei Qu received a victory by way of default.
In singles, Lambropoulos, Fudge and Davé closed out the road win with wins at Nos. 3, 1 and 4, respectively. Lambropoulos (ILL) carded her first collegiate dual win with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Terol (FAU), while Fudge (ILL) took down Wendling (FAU), 6-2, 6-2, before Davé closed out the afternoon in a 6-2, 6-1 defeat of Virginia Augustin (FAU).
"This is a great win, but now, we are ready to head home and get back to work in order to get ready for Marquette and Western Michigan this weekend," Dasso said.
The Illini will next hit the courts in their home opener against Marquette on Saturday, Jan. 19, at the Atkins Tennis Center. The Illini then continue their home stand on Monday, Jan. 21, when they host Western Michigan for a dual match at noon in Urbana, Ill.
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 7, FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY 0
1/12/2008 AT BOCA RATON, FLA. (PATCH REEF PARK)
Singles competition
1. Megan Fudge (ILL) def. Elodie Wendling (FLATL) 6-2, 6-2
2. Leigh Finnegan (ILL) def. Natalia Totevska (FLATL) 6-3, 6-0
3. Marisa Lambropoulos (ILL) def. Pia Terol (FLATL) 6-3, 6-2
4. Shivani Davé (ILL) def. Virginia Augustin (FLATL) 6-2, 6-1
5. Momei Qu (ILL) def. Hannah Findlay (FLATL) 6-3, 6-1
6. Annie McCarthy (ILL) def. No player (FLATL), by default
Doubles competition
1. Megan Fudge/Leigh Finnegan (ILL) def. Elodie Wendling/Hannah Findlay (FLATL) 8-4
2. Annie McCarthy/Marisa Lambropoulos (ILL) def. Pia Terol/Natalia Totevska (FLATL) 8-2
3. Shivani Davé/Momei Qu (ILL) def. No player/No player (FLATL), by default
Match Notes
Illinois 1-0
Florida Atlantic 0-1
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (3,1,4,2,5,6)
