March 7, 2010
Box Score
FORT WORTH, Texas - Despite dropping the doubles point, the No. 43 Illini women's tennis team stormed back in singles to top No. 62 TCU, 4-3 Sunday afternoon at Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center. With the win, Illinois improves to 5-6 and picks up its first true road win of the season, while TCU falls to 1-9 with its eighth straight loss.
"It was a great win for us today," head coach Michelle Dasso said. "The girls really pulled it together after doubles and brought a different level of competitiveness into singles. Marisa (Lambropoulos) keeps getting better and better each match. It was also a special match for Amy Allin. She fought hard in her match and it really could have gone either way. We're looking forward to getting back to Big Ten play with a solid Indiana program at their place on Friday."
The Horned Frogs won their first doubles point at home this season, but the Illini quickly responded in singles, as sophomore Chelcie Abajian defeated Gaby Mastromarino in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3 to tie the match at one. No. 112 senior Megan Fudge improved to 8-2 in her last 10 matches, topping No. 94 Nina Munch-Soegaard, 6-0, 7-5. TCU's win at No. 2 singles evened the score at two apiece, before junior Leigh Finnegan defeated Idunn Hertzberg, 6-4, 6-4 for her fourth straight win and classmate Marisa Lambropoulos clinched the victory with a 7-6 (5), 6-3 defeat of No. 86 Katariina Tuohimaa.
The Illini resume Big Ten play on Friday, March 12 at No. 30 Indiana at 2:30 p.m. CT.
Match Results
#43 Illinois 4, #62 TCU 3
Singles competition
1. #112 Megan Fudge (ILL) def. #94 Nina Munch-Soegaard (TCU) 6-0, 7-5
2. #110 Kayla Duncan (TCU) def. #94 Rachael White (ILL) 6-2, 6-1
3. Marisa Lambropoulos (ILL) def. #86 Katariina Tuohimaa (TCU) 7-6 (7-5), 6-3
4. Leigh Finnegan (ILL) def. Idunn Hertzberg (TCU) 6-4, 6-4
5. Chelcie Abajian (ILL) def. Gaby Mastromarino (TCU) 6-4, 6-3
6. Maria Babanova (TCU) def. Amy Allin (ILL) 2-6, 7-5, 1-0 (10-6)
Doubles competition
1. Kayla Duncan/Katariina Tuohimaa (TCU) def. #46 Leigh Finnegan/Megan Fudge (ILL) 8-6
2. Nina Munch-Soegaard/Maria Babanova (TCU) def. Rachael White/Chelcie Abajian (ILL) 8-5
3. Marisa Lambropoulos/Breanne Smutko (ILL) def. Idunn Hertzberg/Gaby Mastromarino (TCU) 8-3
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (5,1,2,4,3,6)
