Feb. 6, 2009
Complete Results
URBANA, Ill. - The No. 36 Illinois women's tennis team dominated the No. 75 Kansas Jayhawks this afternoon, sweeping all matches for a 7-0 win. The Illini came out composed and energized in doubles, taking all three doubles matches to win the always pivotal doubles point. Junior Megan Fudge improved to 5-0 on singles with a victory at No. 2 singles for the Orange and Blue.
With the win the Illini improve to 3-2 on the season, while the Jayhawks fall to 3-1.
"Overall, I think the girls won 7-0 today by remaining calm, trusting themselves and being in good condition," Illinois head coach Michelle Dasso said. "They played with a lot of heart and passion, which is what we are all about. Doubles obviously was huge, starting off with a win. We switched up the combinations at Nos. 1 and 2 and while they did start off sluggish, they are very good doubles players and they pulled it all together. It's tough playing together for the first time and they are only going to get better. Our No. 3 doubles did a great job out there today. From start to finish they just rolled and that's always nice to start with a quick win."
The Illini netters came out poised and energized as all three doubles tandems took an early 2-0 lead on their respective courts. The No. 3 doubles duo of freshman Amy Allin and sophomore Annie McCarthy never looked back cruising to an 8-1 win over the Kansas tandem of Maria Martinez and Erin Wilbert. At No. 1 doubles, redshirt-sophomore Leigh Finnegan and freshman Chelcie Abajian continued the winning ways of the Orange and Blue as they edged out the Jayhawks' Edina Horvath and Kuni Dorn, 8-6. The Illini completed the doubles sweep as junior Megan Fudge and sophomore Marisa Lambropoulos took down Kansas' Yuliana Svistan and Katerina Morozova, 8-5.
In singles, junior Megan Fudge continued her hot hitting this season as she downed Kansas' Edina Horvath in straight sets, 6-2, 6-0. With the victory, Fudge is now 5-0 in dual matches this season. Freshman Chelcie Abajian was the next Illini to tally a win as she took a straight sets win over the Jayhawks Yuliana Svistan 6-3, 6-3 at No. 4 singles.
At No. 6 singles, junior Kristina Minor battled hard against her opponent Erin Wilbert (KAN), with the Minor taking a tight three set victory, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, to clinch the win for the Orange and Blue. With the match decided, the Illini continued their domination, with freshman Amy Allin downing the Jayhawks Maria Martinez in three sets, 1-6, 6-1, 6-1.
The Illini added wins at Nos. 3 and 1 to complete the sweep of the Jayhawks.
Up next, the Orange and Blue host UIC at 10 a.m. and Illinois State at 3 p.m. in a doubleheader on Sunday, Feb. 8 at the Atkins Tennis Center. Admission is free.
#36 Illinois 7, #75 Kansas 0
Feb. 6, 2009
Atkins Tennis Center
Doubles
1) Leigh Finnegan / Chelcie Abajian (ILL) def. Edina Horvath / Kuni Dorn (KAN) 8-6
2) Marisa Lambropoulos / Megan Fudge (ILL) def. Yuliana Svistan / Katerina Morozova (KAN) 8-5
3) Amy Allin / Annie McCarthy (ILL) def. Maria Martinez / Erin Wilbert (KAN) 8-1
Order of Finish 3, 1, 2
Singles
1) #89 Leigh Finnegan (ILL) def. Katerina Morozova (KAN) 3-6, 6-2, 6-0
2) Megan Fudge (ILL) def. Edina Horvath (KAN) 6-2, 6-0
3) Marisa Lambropoulos (ILL) def. Kuni Dorn (KAN) 7-6 (0), 7-5
4) Chelcie Abajian (ILL) def. Yuliana Svistan (KAN) 6-3, 6-3
5) Amy Allin (ILL) def. Maria Martinez (KAN) 1-6, 6-1, 6-1
6) Kristina Minor (ILL) def. Erin Wilbert (KAN) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
Order of Finish - 2, 4, 6, 5, 3, 1
