April 10, 2010
Box Score
IOWA CITY, Iowa - The 36th-ranked Illini women's tennis team (10-7, 4-1 Big Ten) claimed its biggest win of the season Saturday afternoon, topping No. 22 Iowa (13-4, 3-3), 6-1 for its first victory over a top-25 opponent this year. The win also gives Illinois sole possession of third place in the Big Ten standings behind Michigan (4-0) and Northwestern (5-1). The Illini have won seven of their last eight matches, including four straight in conference play and three straight overall.
"We've been waiting for a top-25 win and we knew it was only a matter of time," head coach Michelle Dasso said. "We'll enjoy it for a couple hours, but then we need to start preparing for Minnesota tomorrow, which beat Iowa earlier in the year. Rachael White played some phenomenal tennis today, the best she's played all spring. It's so great to see her playing more confident and with energy and passion. It's starting to rub off on all the other players. Megan Fudge picked up a big win over a very talented opponent and Leigh (Finnegan) has been playing very well also. We're so confident right now in doubles at every position and moving well. The girls are just really clicking, which is great because that doubles point is very important."
In doubles, the team's two longest winning streaks were extended as Rachael White and Chelcie Abajian topped Kelcie Klockenga and Jessica Young, 8-2 to win their sixth straight, before Marisa Lambropoulos and Breanne Smutko secured the doubles point with an 8-3 defeat of Alexis Dorr and Lynne Poggensee-Wei to make it eight straight for the duo.
Junior Leigh Finnegan and freshman Rachael White each tallied their third straight singles wins to extend the lead to 3-0, before junior Marisa Lambropoulos clinched the win for the Illini with her 19th victory of the season, as she topped Poggensee-Wei, 6-2, 6-4. No. 106 senior Megan Fudge followed with her 19th win as well and third consecutive, as she upset No. 55 Sonja Molnar, 6-1, 6-3 for her fifth victory of the season over a nationally ranked opponent. Closing out the afternoon for the Illini was freshman Breanne Smutko, who won her fourth-straight match with a 6-0, 3-6, 6-1 defeat of Dorr. She now ranks second on the team with 17 singles wins.
The Illini return to Khan Outdoor Tennis Complex next weekend for their final home series of the regular season, beginning with No. 30 Ohio State on Saturday, April 17 at noon.
Match Results
#36 Illinois 6, #22 Iowa 1
Singles competition
1. #106 Megan Fudge (ILL) def. #55 Sonja Molnar (IOWA) 6-1, 6-3
2. Marisa Lambropoulos (ILL) def. Lynne Poggensee-Wei (IOWA) 6-2, 6-4
3. Rachael White (ILL) def. Merel Beelen (IOWA) 6-4, 6-1
4. Leigh Finnegan (ILL) def. Jessica Young (IOWA) 6-2, 6-2
5. Kelcie Klockenga (IOWA) def. Chelcie Abajian (ILL) 7-5, 6-0
6. Breanne Smutko (ILL) def. Alexis Dorr (IOWA) 6-0, 3-6, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. #15 Sonja Molnar/Merel Beelen (IOWA) def. #50 Leigh Finnegan/Megan Fudge (ILL) 8-3
2. Rachael White/Chelcie Abajian (ILL) def. Kelcie Klockenga/Jessica Young (IOWA) 8-2
3. Marisa Lambropoulos/Breanne Smutko (ILL) def. Alexis Dorr/Lynne Poggensee-Wei (IOWA) 8-3
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (4,3,5,2,1,6)
