Illini Drop 4-3 Heartbreaker to #23 Notre Dame

Women's Tennis February 19, 2012

Illini Drop 4-3 Heartbreaker to #23 Notre Dame

Feb. 19, 2012

NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The Fighting Illini women's tennis team (5-2) jumped out to an early lead on Sunday but could not hold off No. 23 Notre Dame (6-3), dropping a 4-3 heartbreaker at Eck Tennis Pavilion. Junior Rachael White led the Orange and Blue with victories in both singles and doubles action.

"Losing hurts," Illinois head coach Michelle Dasso said. "But the good news is we have a quick turnaround before we are back on the courts battling this Friday."

The Illini got off to a solid start against the Irish, capturing the doubles point for the sixth time this season. Redshirt senior Marisa Lambropoulos and freshman Melissa Kopinski claimed a quick 8-2 win at the No. 2 spot, while White and Falkin teamed up take down third-ranked Kristy Frilling and Shannon Mathews in an 8-5 upset at No. 1, clinching the doubles point for Illinois. With the win, White and Falkin improved to 5-1 this spring.

The Illini dropped the first two singles matches, putting themselves in a 1-2 hole. But the Orange and Blue bounced back with straight-set victories by senior Chelcie Abajian, who cruised to a 6-3, 6-2 win at No. 6 singles, and White, who won 6-0, 7-5 at the No. 5 spot. The Orange and Blue could not pull off the upset, however, dropping the final two matches to the Irish.

"There are two main reasons why I believe we are going to have a successful Blue/Gray Tournament," Dasso said. "One, I have an outstanding assistant who has gotten our players in top-notch shape, so playing three matches in three days is going to benefit us. Two, the depth of our roster is a huge asset, and I feel comfortable playing any of my nine players."

The Illini will return to action next weekend at the Blue/Gray Invitational, Feb. 24-26 in Montgomery, Ala.

Singles
1. #39 Shannon Mathews (ND) def. Marisa Lambropoulos (ILL), 6-1, 6-2
2. Kristy Frilling (ND) def. #120 Allison Falkin (ILL), 6-0, 6-1
3. #124 Jennifer Kellner (ND) def. Melissa Kopinski (ILL), 7-5, 6-2
4. Britney Sanders (ND) def. Amy Allin (ILL), 6-4, 7-5
5. Rachael White (ILL) def. Chrissie McGaffigan (ND), 6-0, 7-5
6. Chelcie Abajian (ILL) def. Katherine White (ND), 6-3, 6-2

Doubles
1. Rachael White/Allison Falkin (ILL) def. #3 Kristy Frilling/Shannon Mathews (ND), 8-5
2. Marisa Lambropoulos/Melissa Kopinski (ILL) def. Julie Sabacinski/Britney Sanders (ND), 8-2
3. Chrissie McGaffigan/Jennifer Kellner (ND) def. Chelcie Abajian/Breanne Smutko (ILL), 8-7(3)