University of Illinois
Purdue
Illini Upend Purdue, 4-1, to Advance to Semifinals
April 29, 2011 | Women's Tennis
April 29, 2011
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - With a 4-1 win over third-seeded Purdue (13-8) Friday afternoon in Ann Arbor, the sixth-seeded Illini women's tennis team (11-12) earned a spot in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament for the fourth straight year. The Illini will take on second-seeded Northwestern, which has won its last two semifinal matches against Illinois, on Saturday at 1 p.m. CT.
"We are playing the `Cats again, but we are far from satisfied," head coach Michelle Dasso said. "We've been knocking on the door all year to a big-time win and tomorrow needs to be our day. We have to have the will, competitiveness and mental toughness to find a way to win and keep our season alive."
Illinois once again jumped on top early in doubles, as senior Annie McCarthy and sophomore Breanne Smutko defeated Gisella Pere and Anna Dushkina, 8-2, to claim their third straight win. The 39th-ranked tandem of sophomore Rachael White and freshman Allison Falkin sealed the point with an 8-6 victory over No. 60 Jennifer Rabot and Mara Schmidt.
Purdue came away with the first singles win of the day to knot the score at one, before junior Amy Allin recorded her 23rd win of the year and fourth straight with a 6-3, 6-4 defeat of Bhavani Tirumurti. Falkin followed with a win of her own over Dushkina, 6-3, 7-5, and White clinched the match, topping Rabot, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3.
Match Results
Illinois 4, #61 Purdue 1
Singles competition
1. #105 Rachael White (ILL) def. Jennifer Rabot (PUR) 6-1, 4-6, 6-3
2. Amy Allin (ILL) def. Bhavani Tirumurti (PUR) 6-3, 6-4
3. Mara Schmidt (PUR) vs. Breanne Smutko (ILL) 4-6, 6-3, 1-4, unfinished
4. Allison Falkin (ILL) def. Anna Dushkina (PUR) 6-3, 7-5
5. Imogen Golder (PUR) def. Misia Kedzierski (ILL) 6-2, 6-3
6. Gisella Pere (PUR) vs. Annie McCarthy (ILL) 6-7, 7-6, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. #39 Rachael White/Allison Falkin (ILL) def. #60 Jennifer Rabot/Mara Schmidt (PUR) 8-6
2. Annie McCarthy/Breanne Smutko (ILL) def. Gisella Pere/Anna Dushkina (PUR) 8-2
3. Imogen Golder/Bhavani Tirumurti (PUR) vs. Amy Allin/Chelcie Abajian (ILL) 5-6, unfinished
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (5,2,4,1)
