Illini Effort Falls Short Against Irish

Women's Tennis April 7, 2009

Illini Effort Falls Short Against Irish

April 7, 2009

URBANA, Ill. - The 36th-ranked Illinois women's tennis team played a strong match and gave No. 4-ranked Notre Dame a hard-fought battle, but fell short 6-1 to the Fighting Irish this evening at the Atkins Tennis Center. The Illini started out solid in doubles play, giving the Irish a battle on all courts. However, Notre Dame slipped through to take an early 1-0 lead, and from there, Notre Dame's singles lineup proved to be too much down the stretch for the Illini.

"We have to gain a ton of confidence from our doubles," Illinois head coach Michelle Dasso said. "We were right there with the No. 4 team in the nation on every single court at one, two and three. I think that's very promising. That is a huge confidence boost. Our doubles have really just come together and I think that is going to be key against Ohio State."

With the loss the Illini drop to 14-5 overall and 5-1 in the Big Ten.

Early on in doubles, the Illini battled hard on all three courts, with the closet competition coming at No. 1 doubles. The Illini duo of Chelcie Abajian and Leigh Finnegan fought back from being down 2-6, to tie the score at 7-7 against Notre Dame's duo of Kristy Frilling and Kelcy Tefft, currently ranked No. 3 in the ITA doubles poll. Notre Dame would not go away taking the match at No. 1 doubles, 9-7. The Irish also got wins at Nos. 2 and 3 doubles for the 1-0 early lead.

In singles, it was battle on every court. The score was not indicative of the effort from the Fighting Illini across the board, but in the end, the play of the Irish proved to be the difference as they improved to 20-4 overall.

"Another thing I liked about today is everyone, except for Shivani who won her first set, battled back and did better in their second set than their first," Dasso added. "Megan obviously ended on a high note. She has lost two ten-point breakers in the past and for her mentally to get that breaker and just a huge win for her is outstanding."

Playing at No. 1 singles, Fudge, currently ranked No. 108 in the country fell behind early to 35th-ranked Kelcy Tefft (UND) 6-2 in the first set. The Kaarst, Germany native, found her rhythm in the second set, edging out Tefft, 6-4. In the supertiebreaker, Fudge gained an early lead and held off Tefft to win the match, 2-6, 6-4, 1-0 (11-9). With the win, Fudge is now 23-6 overall on the year and 17-2 in dual matches.

Up next, the Illini hit the road for a pair of conference matches against Ohio State on April 10 and Penn State on April 12.

Match Results
#4 Notre Dame 6, #36 Illinois 1
April 7, 2009
Atkins Tennis Center

Singles Competition
1) #108 Megan Fudge (ILL) def. #35 Kelcy Tefft (UND) 2-6, 6-4, 1-0 (11-9)
2) #36 Kristy Frilling (UND) def. #111 Leigh Finnegan (ILL) 6-0, 6-1
3) Cosmina Ciobanu (UND) def. Marisa Lambropoulos (ILL) 6-1, 6-2
4) Shannon Matthews (UND) def. Chelcie Abajian (ILL) 6-2, 6-4
5) Kali Krisik (UND) def. Amy Allin (ILL) 6-2,3-6,6-2
6) Katie Potts (UND) def. Shivani Davé (ILL) 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-7)

Order of Finish (2,3,4,6,5,1)

Doubles Competition
1) #3 Kristy Frilling/Kelcy Tefft (UND) def. Leigh Finngean/Chelcie Abajian (ILL) 9-7
2) Kali Krisik/Cosmina Ciobanu (UND) def. Megan Fudge/Marisa Lambropoulos (ILL) 8-5
3) Colleen Rielley/Shannn Matthews (UND) def. Amy Allin/Annie McCarthy (ILL) 8-3

Order of Finish: 3,2,1

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