Jan. 31, 2010
Box Score
CLEMSON, S.C. - The No. 32 Illini women's tennis team (1-3) concluded the ITA Kick-Off Weekend event with its first win of the season, a 4-2 defeat of No. 37 Texas A&M (0-2) on Sunday afternoon in Clemson, S.C. Junior Marisa Lambropoulos clinched the victory with her fifth straight win of the season.
"I'm so excited for the girls," head coach Michelle Dasso said. "They showed tremendous character and effort after losing a couple of close matches and really laid it all on the line today. We beat a very good team and we're obviously very happy to get a win under our belts. We're looking forward to playing at home next weekend and hopefully in front of a very supportive crowd."
The doubles duo of junior Leigh Finnegan and Rachael White picked up their first win in dual action with an 8-5 victory over Christi Liles and Elzé Potgieter, before senior Megan Fudge and freshman Breanne Smutko topped Sheri Olivier and Nazari Urbina, 8-4 to seal the point for the Illini.
The Aggies went ahead 2-1 in singles with wins at Nos. 1 and 2, before Smutko evened the score, topping No. 118 Lauren Santacroce, 7-6 (5), 6-4. Sophomore Chelcie Abajian followed with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over No. 117 Urbina, and Lambropoulos downed Olivier, 6-2, 6-2 to clinch the 4-2 win for Illinois.
The Illini begin a three-match homestand next Friday, Feb. 5 against No. 25 Florida State at 3 p.m. at Atkins Tennis Center.
Match Results
#32 Illinois 4, #37 Texas A&M 2
Singles
1. #88 Elzé Potgieter (TAMU) def. #33 Rachael White (ILL), 6-2, 6-3
2. Morgan Frank (TAMU) def. Megan Fudge (ILL), 6-2, 6-2
3. Chelcie Abajian (ILL) def. #117 Nazari Urbina (TAMU), 6-3, 7-5
4. Breanne Smutko (ILL) def. #118 Lauren Santacroce (TAMU), 7-6 (5), 6-4
5. Marisa Lambropoulos (ILL) def. Sheri Olivier (TAMU), 6-2, 6-2
6. Stephanie Davidson (TAMU) vs. Amy Allin (ILL), 4-5, unfinished
Doubles
1. Finnegan/White (ILL) def. Christi Liles/Potgieter (TAMU), 8-5
2. Stephanie Davidson/Frank (TAMU) def. Abajian/Lambropoulos (ILL), 8-6
3. Fudge/Smutko (ILL) def. Olivier/Urbina (TAMU), 8-4
Order of finish: Doubles: (1, 2, 3), Singles: (1, 2, 4, 3, 5)
