Illini Cruise Past Marquette, 6-1

Women's Tennis February 28, 2009

Illini Cruise Past Marquette, 6-1

Feb. 28, 2009

MILWAUKEE, Wis. - The No. 33 Illinois women's tennis team won its sixth straight match, downing the Marquette Golden Eagles, 6-1, this afternoon at the Helfaer Tennis Stadium in Milwaukee. Junior Megan Fudge continued her perfect start to the season improving her dual match record to 10-0 with a straight sets win at No. 2 singles.

"Overall, it was great to get another win heading into the Big Ten season," head coach Michelle Dasso said. "This is definitely a confidence boost for our girls heading into the conference season with an 8-2 record. The girls are hungry and ready to get started and couldn't be more excited to kick things off at home next weekend against Indiana."

In doubles, the Illini started off hot, as all three tandems took an early 5-0 advantage on their courts. The Illinois tandem of freshman Amy Allin and sophomore Annie McCarthy wasted little time in taking care of Marquette's Rachael Hush and Gillian Hush at No. 3 doubles, 8-1. The Orange and Blue clinched the doubles point as junior Megan Fudge and sophomore Marisa Lambropoulos tallied an 8-4 win at No. 2 doubles over Christina Ruiz and Robin Metzler (MAR). Closing out the sweep of doubles, redshirt-sophomore Leigh Finnegan and freshman Chelcie Abajian defeated Marquette's Paola Calderon and Kylie Moore, 8-7, at the No. 1 spot.

The Illini carried the momentum into singles, as sophomore Marisa Lambropoulos struck first, taking a 6-1, 6-0 win in the No. 4 slot. Playing at No. 1 singles, Leigh Finnegan (ILL) bageled her opponent Paola Calderon (MAR) in both sets, 6-0, 6-0 for another Illini victory and freshman Chelcie Abajian clinched the win for the Orange and Blue with a win at No. 3 singles. Abajian cruised to a straight sets victory 6-3, 6-0 over Christina Ruiz (MAR). The Golden Eagles picked up a victory at No. 5 singles as Kylie Moore (MAR) defeated Illinois' Amy Allin in three sets. Allin, in her first match since suffering an injury a couple weeks ago, took the first set 6-2, then Moore countered in the second set and took the win in the third set super tiebreaker.

At No. 6 singles, Illini senior Shivani Davé improved her dual match record to 5-0 as the Concord, Mass., native notched a straight sets victory (6-2, 6-3) over Marquette's Robin Metzler.

Closing out the afternoon, junior Megan Fudge continued her winning ways as she downed the Golden Eagles' Olga Fischer, 6-2, 6-3, at No. 2 singles. The win marks Fudge's tenth consecutive singles win of the dual season.

The Illini return home to the Atkins Tennis Center as they host the Indiana Hoosiers in their conference opener at 12 p.m. CT. on March 7. Admission is free.

Complete Results
#33 Illinois 6, Marquette 1
Feb. 28, 2009
Helfaer Tennis Stadium

Doubles competition
1) Chelcie Abajian / Leigh Finnegan (ILL) def. Calderon/Moore (MAR) 8-7
2) Megan Fudge / Marisa Lambropoulos (ILL) def. Ruiz/Metzler 8-4
3) Amy Allin / Annie McCarthy (ILL) def. R. Hush/G. Hush (MAR) 8-1

Singles competition
1) Leigh Finnegan (ILL) def. Calderon (MAR) 6-0, 6-0
2) Megan Fudge (ILL) def. Fischer (MAR) 6-2, 6-3
3) Chelcie Abajian (ILL) def. Ruiz (MAR) 6-3, 6-0
4) Marisa Lambropoulos (ILL) def. R. Hush (MAR) 6-1, 6-0
5) Moore (MAR) def. Amy Allin (ILL) 2-6, 6-3, 1-0 (5)
6) Shivani Davé def. Metzler (MAR) 6-2, 6-3