Feb. 26, 2012
Box Score
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - After solid first and second rounds for the Fighting Illini women's tennis team (6-4), the Orange and Blue stumbled in the third-place match of the Blue Gray National Tennis Classic on Sunday, suffering a 4-0 loss to No. 33 Arizona (7-3) to finish fourth in the tournament.
The Illini struggled early, dropping the doubles point with losses at the Nos. 1 and 3 spots. Redshirt senior Marisa Lambropoulos and freshman Melissa Kopinski teamed up to capture the only win of the day for the Orange and Blue, downing Wildcat duo Sarah Landsman and Hailey Johnson, 8-5, at No. 2 doubles.
The struggles continued in singles play, as Illinois dropped the first three completed matches to give Arizona a 4-0 victory. Two Illini were leading in their singles matches when play stopped. Kopinski won her first set, 6-0, before coming up just short in the second (5-7). The Illini newcomer was winning, 3-1, in the third set but did not finish. Meanwhile, sophomore Misia Kedzierski had a lead in her match as well, going 6-4, 3-2 before the dual ended.
The Illini will look to bounce back in their Big Ten opener, hosting Northwestern on Saturday, March 10 at 5 p.m. at Atkins Tennis Center.
SINGLES
1. Lacey Smyth (Arizona) def. Marisa Lambropoulos (Illinois), 6-2, 6-2
2. Sarah Landsman (Arizona) vs. Melissa Kopinski (Illinois), 0-6, 7-5, 1-3, DNF
3. #64 Natasha Marks (Arizona) def. Rachael White (Illinois), 6-3, 6-1
4. Kim Stubbe (Arizona) vs. Amy Allin (Illinois), 6-2, 4-4, DNF
5. Susan McRann (Arizona) def. Breanne Smutko (Illinois), 6-3, 6-1
6. Laura Oldham (Arizona) vs. Misia Kedzierski (Illinois), 4-6, 2-3, DNF
DOUBLES
1. Smyth/Marks (Arizona) def. Falkin/White (Illinois), 8-5
2. Lambropoulos/Kopinski (Illinois) def. Landsman/Johnson (Arizona), 8-5
3. Stubbe/McRann (Arizona) def. Jamieson/Abajian (Illinois), 8-3
