Feb. 8, 2008
Box Score | Photo Gallery 
URBANA, Ill. - The Illinois women's tennis team came out strong and never looked back in its 6-1 upset win over No. 60-ranked DePaul tonight at the Atkins Tennis Center. With the win, the Illini have taken down a ranked opponent for the first time since the 2005-06 season when the Fighting Illini got the better of No. 50 Louisville, 5-2, on March 10, 2006. Sophomore Kristina Minor for the Illini put the final nail in the coffin against DePaul, as she worked her way through a three-set affair against Kirsten Gambrell (DU) on court six (7-5, 3-6, 6-2) to clinch the victory.
"This is a huge confidence booster for this team," head coach Michelle Dasso said. "I couldn't be more proud of the girls. It was awesome to start right off with winning the doubles point. Then, what I was so proud of was how we battled in every point on every court. I have been telling this team that we have some losses on the season, but we have been right there in all of them. So it feels so great to break through that barrier and win tonight."
In only their third meeting in history, the Illini also are now 2-1 in the all-time series against DePaul, having won the last two straight, including a 7-0 victory in 2004. Illinois now returns to .500 on the season and snapped a three-match losing streak to move to 3-3 on the year, while DePaul suffered its second loss of the season - first to an unranked opponent - to drop to 5-2.
The Illini were all business in doubles from the very first serve on court one, as sophomore Megan Fudge and redshirt freshman Leigh Finnegan (ILL) took a 4-0 lead over Dunja Antunovic and Kirsten Gambrell (DU) with two early breaks. The Illini pushed forward from there as they steamed rolled the DePaul duo, 8-3.
Continuing the pursuit of Illinois' bid for the doubles point, junior Shivani Davé and freshman Marisa Lambropoulos (ILL) were holding their own on court two, trading breaks to level the match at 4-all. The UI pair battled Beatrix Csordas and Selma Salkovic (DU) for the remainder of the frame, but with neither team budging, the match would be settled in the tiebreaker. There, the Illini finally put the Blue Demon tandem away, sealing the doubles point by handing Csordas/Salkovic their first dual loss of the season with the 9-8(5) victory, giving the Orange and Blue a 1-0 lead in the match.
Looking to defend its lead in singles, Illinois came out strong to win three first sets, including an impressive fight from sophomore Kristina Minor (ILL) on court six, as she fell behind 4-Love before storming back to claim the opening set over Kirsten Gambrell (DU), 7-5. In the most lopsided match of the night, Davé (ILL) was cruising through her match on court five, dismantling Anja Minaldinec (DU), 6-0, in the opening frame. Davé (ILL) never relinquished her hold on the match, bageling the Blue Demon in the second set to give Illinois the 2-0 lead.
Down the stretch, the Blue Demons made a push of their own, sending all the remaining matches on court to third and decisive sets. However, Fudge (ILL), on court one, put DePaul on the ropes, as she rolled through her third set over Antunovic (DU), 6-1, to claim the come-from-behind victory and put Illinois one win away from the upset, 3-0. Minor (ILL) finally put the dagger in the Blue Demons, as she put away Gambrell (DU) in the third set, 6-2, to clinch the match for Illinois.
Rounding out the evening, Lambropoulos (ILL) carded a solid win over Milinkovic (DU), 5-7, 6-3, 7-5, on court three, while Finnegan (ILL) overcame Gergana Ganeva (DU), 4-6, 7-6(1), 7-5 at No. 2 singles.
The Illini continue their weekend non-conference action when they face Kansas on Sunday, Feb. 10, for a noon match against the Jayhawks in Lawrence, Kan. The contest marks the first non-ranked opponent for the Illini since they started off the season 2-0 with wins over Florida Atlantic and Marquette. There is no live scoring available for the Illini's match on the road against Kansas. Illinois enters the affair a perfect 2-0 against unranked foes this season.
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 6, #60 DEPAUL UNIVERSITY 1
2/8/2008 AT URBANA, ILL. (ATKINS TENNIS CENTER)
Singles competition
1. Megan Fudge (ILL) def. Dunja Antunovic (DU) - 2-6, 6-4, 6-1
2. Leigh Finnegan (ILL) vs. Gergana Ganeva (DU) - 4-6, 7-6(1), 7-5
3. Marisa Lambropoulos (ILL) vs. Katarina Milinkovic (DU)- 5-7, 6-3, 7-5
4. Selma Salkovic (DU) def. Momei Qu (ILL) - 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-2
5. Shivani Davé (ILL) def. Anja Minaldinec (DU) - 6-0, 6-0
6. Kristina Minor (ILL) def. Kirsten Gambrell (DU) - 7-5, 3-6, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Megan Fudge / Leigh Finnegan (ILL) def. Dunja Antunovic / Kirsten Gambrell (DP) - 8-3
2. Marisa Lambropoulos / Shivani Davé (ILL) def. Beatrix Csordas / Selma Salkovic (DP) - 9-8(5)
3. Gergana Ganeva / Anja Minaldinec def. Alejandra Meza Cuadra / Annie McCarthy (ILL) - 9-8(7)
Match Notes
University of Illinois 3-3
DePaul University, 5-2; National Ranking - 60
Order of finish: Doubles (1, 2, 3); Singles (5, 1, 6, 4, 3, 2)
Attendance - 152
