April 13, 2008

Box Score

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The University of Illinois women's tennis team registered its second straight doubles point in Big Ten action against No. 31 Ohio State today and then followed with its biggest upset of the season when it scored a 5-2 road win over the Buckeyes to spoil OSU's Senior Day at the OSU Varsity Tennis Center. Putting a conference foe on the ropes on the road for the second straight time, the Illini finished the job today as their fight at every singles match proved the deciding factor in helping Illinois improve to 9-9 overall and 5-3 in Big Ten action, while the Buckeyes dropped to 18-5 overall and 5-3 in league contests.

"I could not be anymore proud of this team and its effort over the course of the entire weekend," head coach Michelle Dasso said. "After suffering a close loss yesterday, this team showed a lot of character in bouncing back today and winning the doubles point for the second straight time, and then using that momentum to put Ohio State away. Today was a match of people just really stepping up to meet the challenge against a really good team. I am really proud of the play of Momei. She really stepped-up as a senior leader and won her match in singles and to get things started for us was huge. Then Leigh played a great match at two. After letting the first set slip away from her so fast, she did well to compose herself and win the next two very easily."

Illinois again could not have started a Big Ten road contest on a better foot, as it scored wins at doubles Nos. 1 and 2 for the second straight dual. An Achilles heel for the Illini all season, UI has now won back-to-back doubles points and has captured the point for the sixth time this season with today's performance. They not only took the team point convincingly, but also did it against a team that was 34-2 combined between the three doubles positions heading into the weekend. That doubles mark also helped them post a 10-2 record at home before today's setback to drop OSU to 10-3.

In today's contest, the Buckeyes opened the doubles point with a win on court three, but that would be their last thing to cheer about the rest of the afternoon, as Illinois' redshirt freshman Leigh Finnegan and freshman Marisa Lambropoulos rolled Julie Blackmore and Cami Hubbs (OSU), 8-3, on court two to snap the Buckeye duo's 13-match win streak at the position at home. Then with the match on the line, the duo of junior Shivani Davé and sophomore Megan Fudge (ILL) stepped up again when it counted, stealing a crucial break at one doubles to win the match, 9-7, over Angela DiPastina and Christina Keesey (OSU).

For the Illini, who switched up their doubles lineup midway through Big Ten doubles action behind the leadership of coach Dasso, they have really began to reap the benefits of the changeup as the tandems have finally settled into their roles and won three doubles points in their eight Big Ten matches to date.

With the match in Illinois' hands at 1-0, Illinois padded its lead with wins at Nos. 6 and 1 singles, with senior Momei Qu (ILL) getting in on the action to win her 15th singles match of the year with a victory over Caitlin O'Keefe (IND), 6-4, 6-1, at No. 6. Then in a mirrored score to court six, Fudge (ILL) gave the Orange and Blue a 3-0 advantage when she upended DiPastina (IND) on court one.

Needing just one more win to score their biggest upset of the season, the Illini turned to Finnegan (ILL) in the second slot. Putting their stamp on a match that could have easily been a 7-0 victory, the Illini registered the match win with the clinching match from Finnegan (ILL), who downed Paloma Escobedo (OSU), 1-6, 6-2, 6-1. The win came after the Orange and Blue redshirt freshman had allowed a quick defeat in the opening set, but turned the tides when she found her footing in the three-set affair.

Davé polished off the day with a three-set victory of her own at No. 4 singles, battling back from a set down to win tight second and third sets in the tiebreakers, prevailing over Keesey (OSU) 0-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (0). Ohio State claimed wins at Nos. 5 and 3 to make the final score 5-2, in favor of Illinois.

This is Illinois first win over Ohio State since 2006 (Big Ten Tournament), and the first regular season win over the Buckeyes since 2004, snapping a two-match skid against the conference foes with today's victory as well.

Illinois next returns home on April 19-20, when it hosts Senior Weekend for seniors Qu and Alejandra Meza Cuadra, with Minnesota (April 19) and Iowa (April 20) both in town for the match festivities. Both matches are set for 11 a.m. starts at the Atkins Tennis Center in Urbana.

#58 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 5, #31 OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY 2
4/13/2008 AT COLUMBUS, OHIO (OSU VARSITY TENNIS CENTER)

Singles competition
1. Megan Fudge (ILL) def. Angela DiPastina (OSU) - 6-4, 6-1
2. Leigh Finnegan (ILL) def. Paloma Escobedo (OSU) - 1-6, 6-2, 6-1
3. Julie Blackmore (OSU) def. Marisa Lambropoulos (ILL) - 3-6, 7-6 (3), 6-2
4. Shivani Davé (ILL) def. Christina Keesey (OSU) - 0-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (0)
5. Cami Hubbs (OSU) def. Kristina Minor (ILL) - 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-1
6. Momei Qu (ILL) def. Caitlin O'Keefe (OSU) - 6-4, 6-1

Doubles competition
1. Megan Fudge / Shivani Davé (ILL) def. Angelina DiPastina / Christina Keesey (OSU) - 9-7
2. Marisa Lambropoulos / Leigh Finnegan (ILL) def. Julie Blackmore / Cami Hubbs (OSU) - 8-3
3. Caitlin O'Keefe / Paloma Escobedo (OSU) def. Annie McCarthy / Kristina Minor (ILL) - 8-1

Match Notes
University of Illinois: 9-9, 5-3 Big Ten; National Ranking - 58
Ohio State University: 18-5, 5-3 Big Ten; National Ranking - 31
Order of finish: Doubles (3, 2, 1); Singles (6, 1, 2, 5, 4, 3)