Feb. 4, 2011

Box Score

URBANA, Ill. - The 28th-ranked Illini women's tennis team (2-3) defeated No. 35 DePaul (2-3), 5-2, Friday night at Atkins Tennis Center to capture its first home win of the year. Illinois swept doubles and claimed four of six singles matches en route to victory, with sophomore Rachael White clinching the match at No. 2 singles for her third straight win of the season.

"I'm so happy with our doubles play today," head coach Michelle Dasso said. "The balance in our step, the energy that we brought, that was by far, all-around, the best match we've played so far. But it really started with doubles. We played with confidence, we played with energy and that carried over into singles. I'm incredibly happy with our singles across the board too. We're implementing the things that we worked on in practice into matches and you can't ask for much more than that. I'm very proud of our girls."

The Illini swept all three doubles matches for the first time this season to take an early 1-0 advantage heading into singles. Freshman Allison Falkin and senior Marisa Lambropoulos extended the lead to 3-0 with their ninth and sixth wins, respectively, before DePaul got on the board with a win at No. 3 singles. With three matches remaining, No. 100 White stormed back in the third set of her respective match and held off Selma Salkovic, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, to seal the victory for the Illini and junior Amy Allin added her team-best 12th win of the year with a 6-4, 7-5 sweep of Christiana Raymond.

Illinois is back in action on Sunday to take on No. 26 Virginia at 11 a.m. at Atkins Tennis Center.

Match Results
#28 Illinois 5, #35 DePaul 2

Singles competition
1. Katrina Milinkovic (DPU) def. Breanne Smutko (ILL) 6-1, 5-7, 1-0 (10-1)
2. #100 Rachael White (ILL) def. Selma Salkovic (DPU) 6-2, 3-6, 6-3
3. Gia McKnight (DPU) def. Chelcie Abajian (ILL) 6-0, 7-6 (7-3)
4. Amy Allin (ILL) def. Christiana Raymond (DPU) 6-4, 7-5
5. Marisa Lambropoulos (ILL) def. Kelsey Lawson (DPU) 6-1, 6-2
6. Allison Falkin (ILL) def. Cali Gustafson (DPU) 6-4, 6-1

Doubles competition
1. #15 Rachael White/Allison Falkin (ILL) def. Gia McKnight/Katrina Milinkovic (DPU) 8-0
2. Breanne Smutko/Chelcie Abajian (ILL) def. Kelsey Lawson/Selma Salkovic (DPU) 8-3
3. Marisa Lambropoulos/Amy Allin (ILL) def. Cali Gustafson/Christiana Raymond (DPU) 8-4

Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (6,5,3,2,4,1)