Fighting Illini Dominate Hoosiers, 5-2

Women's Tennis March 7, 2009

Fighting Illini Dominate Hoosiers, 5-2

March 7, 2009

URBANA, Ill. - The No. 51 Illinois Women's Tennis team successfully opened up the Big Ten season with a victory over the No. 36 Hoosiers 5-2, Saturday afternoon at the Atkins Tennis Center, The win extended the Illini's winning streak, giving the team its seventh consecutive victory. The Orange and Blue grabbed the momentum early, securing the crucial doubles point with victories at No. 2 and 3 doubles.

With the win the Illini improve to 9-2 overall and 1-0 in Big Ten play, while the Hoosiers fall to 8-5, 0-1.

"I think today we showed how resilient we are," head coach Michelle Dasso said. "We never gave up. I think it was an unbelievable way to set off our Big Ten season. It's the first time we've beat Indiana since I've been here, and it was a great fight. We kind of set the stage for the rest of the season. No matter what happens, we're going to get out there and battle and never give up."

The duo of junior Megan Fudge and sophomore Marisa Lambropoulos got things rolling for the Illini tallying an 8-6 victory at No. 2 doubles over Sigrid Fischer and Lindsey Stuckey (IND). The Illini pair of sophomore Annie McCarthy and freshman Amy Allin took No. 3 doubles, 8-5 over Indiana's Alba Berdala and Stephanie Heller to clinch the doubles point for the Illini. The tandem of Leigh Finnegan and Chelcie Abajian battled back from a 5-0 deficit at No. 1 doubles to a 6-6 tie, but fell just short to Indiana's No. 1 duo of Myriam Sopel and Katya Zapadalova, 8-6.

Megan Fudge continued her perfect start to the season improving her dual record to 11-0. Fudge dominated at No. 2 singles, finishing first with a straight sets 6-1, 6-1 win. At No. 4 singles sophomore Marisa Lambropoulos gave the Illini a 3-0 lead. After dropping her first set 2-6, Lambropoulos fought back to take the second and third sets, 6-1, 6-1, respectively.

Sophomore Leigh Finnegan battled at No. 1 doubles with Indiana's Katya Zapadalova. Finnegan won the first set, 6-3. Zapadalova forced at third set after taking the second, 6-1. Both athletes showed perseverance in the final set, but Finnegan won the fight, 7-5, clinching the win for the Orange and Blue.

Senior Shivani Dave continued her perfect start to the season, improving to 6-0 on the season at No. 6 singles after her opponent was forced to retire in the third set.

The Fighting Illini travel to West Lafayette, Ind., to face the Purdue Boilermakers tomorrow (3/7) at 11 a.m. C.T.

#51 Illinois 5, #36 Indiana 2
Mar. 7, 2009
Atkins Tennis Center

Doubles
1) Myriam Sopel/Katya Zapadalova (IND) def. Chelcie Abajian / Leigh Finnegan 8-6
2) Megan Fudge / Marisa Lambropoulos (ILL) Sigrid Fischer / Lindsey Stuckey (IND) 8-6
3) Annie McCarthy / Amy Allin (ILL) def. Alba Berdala / Stephanie Heller (IND) 8-5

Singles
1) #86 Leigh Finnegan (ILL) def. Katya Zapadalova (IND) 6-3, 1-6, 7-5
2) Megan Fudge (ILL) def. Charlotte Martin (IND) 6-1, 6-1
3) Alba Berdala (IND) def. Chelcie Abajian (ILL) 7-6 (9-7), 3-6, 6-4
4) Marisa Lambropoulos (ILL) def. Sigrid Fischer (IND) 2-6, 6-1, 6-1
5) Lindsey Stuckey (IND) def. Amy Allin (ILL) 2-6, 7-5, 6-3
6) Shivani Davé (ILL) def. Megan Matter 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 4-1, retired