April 25, 2009

Box Score

MADISON, Wis. - The No. 34-ranked Illinois women's tennis team dropped a 4-3 heartbreaking loss to the No. 18-ranked Michigan Wolverines in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament at the Nielsen Tennis Center this afternoon. The Wolverines grabbed the doubles point early on and despite tough performances across the Illinois singles lineup, Michigan came out on top in the end.

"The girls went out and laid it all out on the line this afternoon," Illinois head coach Michelle Dasso said. " I couldn't be more proud of this team and the effort they showed. Ultimately, it came down to the doubles point and that's been a common characteristic in all of our 4-3 losses this season, the doubles point can make a huge difference in the end."

The Wolverines charged ahead early in doubles, taking wins at Nos. 1 and 3 to clinch the early advantage.

In singles, the Illini battled back taking three straight wins at Nos. 1, 2, and 6. Redshirt-sophomore Leigh Finnegan, currently ranked No. 123 in the Campbell's/ITA rankings, was the first Illini on the board as she upset 97th-ranked Rika Tatsuno of Michigan at No. 2 singles in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1.

Junior Kristina Minor was up next, as she avenged a loss from a week ago to Michigan's Michelle Sulahian, 7-5, 6-4 at No. 6 singles for the Illini. Fellow Illini junior Megan Fudge also notched a win on the afternoon for the Orange and Blue. Fudge, ranked No. 77, captured her 28th overall singles win of the season, as she took a straight sets 6-4, 6-4 upset victory over the Wolverine's 62nd-ranked Chisako Sugiyama at No. 1 singles.

The Wolverines won at Nos. 4 and 5 to even the score at 3-all. All attention then shifted to the play at No. 3 singles, where Illinois freshman Chelcie Abajian battled against Michigan's Denis Muresan. Muresan took the first set, 6-1 over Abajian, but the feisty Illini responded with a second set 6-3 victory. In the third and deciding set, the Abajian went up early, but could not hold on, falling 6-4 in the final set.

With the loss, the Illini fall to 18-7 overall, while the Wolverines improve to 17-5.

Up next, the Illini will learn their NCAA Championships fate on the selection show on Tuesday, April 28 at 4:20 p.m. CT.

#18 Michigan 4, #34 Illinois 3
4/25/2009 at Madison, Wis. (Nielsen Tennis Stadium)

Singles competition
1. #77 Megan Fudge (ILL) def. #62 Chisako Sugiyama (MICH) 6-4, 6-4
2. #123 Leigh Finnegan (ILL) def. #97 Rika Tatsuno (MICH) 6-4, 6-1
3. Denise Muresan (MICH) def. Chelcie Abajian (ILL) 6-1, 3-6, 6-4
4. Whitney Taney (MICH) def. Marisa Lambropoulos (ILL) 6-2, 7-6 (7-5)
5. Tania Mahtani (MICH) def. Amy Allin (ILL) 2-6, 6-4, 6-0
6. Kristina Minor (ILL) def. Michelle Sulahian (MICH) 7-5, 6-4

Doubles competition
1. Chisako Sugiyama/Tania Mahtani (MICH) def. Leigh Finnegan/Chelcie Abajian (ILL) 8-5
2. Rika Tatsuno/Whitney Taney (MICH) vs. Megan Fudge/Marisa Lambropoulos (ILL) 6-4, unfinished
3. Lindsey Howard/Denise Muresan (MICH) def. Amy Allin/Annie McCarthy (ILL) 8-3