Nov. 8, 2008
URBANA, Ill. - The Illinois women's tennis team concluded day two of the 2008 Midwest Blast at the Atkins Tennis Center this afternoon. Four Illini notched singles victories, including freshman Chelcie Abajian who picked up her first home victory, improving her overall singles record to 10-6 for the fall season. Abajian dropped the first set to Denver's Julia Bauregger then bounced back to take the next two sets and the match 1-6, 6-2, 6-3.
"In general I was very proud of my girls out on the court today," Illinois head coach Michelle Dasso said. "They showed how much heart and fight they have and that will definitely help us in the long run. All you can ask for as a coach is that your team goes out there and battles and gives it everything they have and my girls did that today."
The Illini started out the day with a round of doubles against three tandems from Notre Dame. While the Illini fell short in doubles, they quickly rebounded later in the day, tallying four singles victories.
Junior Christine Stromberg was the first to grab a victory for the Illini on day two of the fall classic. The Rolling Meadows, Ill., native downed Wichita State's Laryssa Ferreira 6-4, 6-2.
Sophomore Leigh Finnegan picked up another victory for the Orange and Blue at the No. 1 spot against Denver's Mallory Voelker. Finnegan came out firing on all cylinders with an intensity level that Voelker could not overcome as the Illini took a straight sets, 6-4, 6-0 win.
Rounding out the Illini victories was sophomore Annie McCarthy who notched an impressive win over Denver's Bhavani Tirumurti. McCarthy stormed out to take the first set, 6-3, then fell short early on in the second set. The Beverly, Ill., native battled back from being down 5-2 to take the second set and the win, 7-5.
The Illini wrap up the fall season with the final day of the Midwest Blast. Action begins at 8 a.m. with Notre Dame vs. Denver in singles, while the Illini will square off against Wichita State in singles at approximately 11 a.m. Admission to the Midwest Blast is free.
2008 Midwest Blast Day Two Results
11/8/08
Doubles
Cosmina Ciobanu / Kali Krisik (ND) def. Chelcie Abajian / Marisa Lambropoulos (ILL) 8-5
Shannon Matthews / Colleen Rielley (ND) def. Megan Fudge / Leigh Finnegan (ILL) 8-1
Katie Potts / Kristen Rafael (ND) def. Shivani Davé / Amy Allin (ILL) 8-2
Anna Egorova / Luftiana Budiharto (WSU) def. Mallory Voelker / Julia Bauregger (DEN) 9-7
Kyla Iwinski / Ute Schnoy (DEN) def. Stephanie Dalmacio / Lenore Lazaroiu (WSU) 8-4
Annette Aksdal / Bhavani Tirumurti (DEN) def. Laryssa Ferreira / Florentina Hanisch (WSU) 8-6
Singles
Luftiana Budiharto (WSU) def. Shannon Matthews (ND) 6-4, 6-0
Torrie Browning (WSU) def. Cosmina Ciobanu (ND) 6-4, 6-3
Kali Krisik (ND) def. Anna Egorova (WSU) 6-2, 6-2
Stephanie Dalmacio (WSU) def. Colleen Rielley (ND) 6-2, 6-2
Kristen Rafael (ND) def. Florentina Hanisch (WSU) 6-2, 6-4
Lenore Lazaroiu (WSU) def. Katie Potts (ND) 6-4, 6-3
Christine Stromberg (ILL) def. Laryssa Ferreira (WSU) 6-4, 6-2
Leigh Finnegan (ILL) def. Mallory Voelker (DEN) 6-4, 6-0
Annette Aksdal (DEN) def. Megan Fudge (ILL) 6-2, 6-2
Ute Schnoy (DEN) def. Marisa Lambropoulos (ILL) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
Chelcie Abajian (ILL) def. Julia Bauregger (DEN) 1-6, 6-2, 6-3
Kyla Iwinski (DEN) def. Amy Allin (ILL) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
Annie McCarthy (ILL) def. Bhavani Tirumurti (DEN) 6-3, 7-5
