Illini Wrap Up Fall Season at Schwartz Challenge

Women's Tennis November 6, 2011

Illini Wrap Up Fall Season at Schwartz Challenge

Nov. 6, 2011

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Illini women's tennis team wrapped up the fall season with three victories in both singles and doubles action on Sunday at the Schwartz Tennis Challenge, hosted by Purdue.

"The entire team has been growing all fall, and this tournament was no different," Illini head coach Michelle Dasso said. "We learned from our losses, our wins and our competition. Our freshmen were impressive. (Melissa) Kopinski was undefeated all weekend playing top-notch tennis, and the way (Julia) Jamieson responded today after a rough day yesterday shows a lot about her. The challenge for my team is to keep getting better each day despite now being in the off-season and soon holiday breaks. We need to stay fit and healthy to have the type of spring we all know we are capable of having."

The Illini got off to a strong start, going 3-0 against Vanderbilt, a 2011 NCAA Sweet 16 team. Freshman Melissa Kopinski teamed up with Marisa Lambropoulos to take an 8-5 victory over Commodore tandem Marie Casares and Lauren Mira, marking Kopinski's third doubles win of the tournament. The 37th-ranked duo of senior Chelcie Abajian and Breanne Smutko continued their success with their third win of the tournament as well, downing Ashleigh Antal and Chelsea Preeg, 8-5. Freshman Julia Jamieson and sophomore Misia Kedzierski added a victory of their own, toppling Nelly Radeva and Alex Leatu, 8-4.

The Illini did not fare as well in their next round of doubles matches, however, as the Orange and Blue went 0-3 against Big Ten foe Purdue to finish 8-4 overall in doubles play throughout the three-day tournament.

In singles action, the Illini went 3-4 on the day to finish 10-16 in the tournament, as Kedzierski captured her second singles victory of the weekend, downing Iowa's Cassandra Escobar, 6-3, 6-1. Smutko and Jamieson also got in on the winning action, taking down Hawkeyes Katie Zordani and Ellen Silver, respectively.

The Schwartz Tennis Challenge marks the final tournament of the fall season. The Orange and Blue will return to action for the dual season on Jan. 13 to take on Stephen F. Austin in Fort Meyers, Fla.

Shwartz Tennis Challenge - Illini Results

Illinois vs. Vanderbilt
Marisa Lambropoulos/Melissa Kopinski (Illinois) def. Marie Casares/Lauren Mira (Vanderbilt), 8-5
#37 Chelcie Abajian/Breanne Smutko (Illinois) def. Ashleigh Antal/Chelsea Preeg (Vanderbilt), 8-5
Misia Kedzierski/Julia Jamieson (Illinois) def. Nelly Radeva/Alex Leatu (Vanderbilt), 8-4

Purdue vs. Illinois
#46 Jennifer Rabot/Mara Schmidt (Purdue) def. Marisa Lambropoulos/Allison Falkin (Illinois), 8-5
Gisella Pere/Imogen Golder (Purdue) def. Chelcie Abajian/Breanne Smutko (Illinois), 9-7
Lynda Xepoleas/Anna Dushkina (Purdue) def. Julia Jamieson/Misia Kedzierski (Illinois), 8-3

Iowa vs. Illinois
Shelby Talcott (Iowa) def. Allison Falkin (Illinois), 7-6(5), 1-6, (10-7)
Breanne Smutko (Illinois) def. Katie Zordani (Iowa), 6-3, 6-4
Misia Kedzierski (Illinois) def. Cassandra Escobar (Iowa), 6-3, 6-1
Christina Harazin (Iowa) def. Chelcie Abajian (Illinois), 6-3, 1-6, 10-5
Julia Jamieson (Illinois) def. Ellen Silver (Iowa), 6-1, 5-7, 10-7