March 10, 2012

Box Score

URBANA, Ill. - The Fighting Illini women's tennis team fell to No. 14 Northwestern, 5-2, in its conference opener Saturday night at Atkins Tennis Center. Freshman Melissa Kopinski led the Orange and Blue with wins in both singles and doubles action, but it was not enough as Illinois suffered its third straight loss, dropping to 6-5 on the season and 0-1 in the Big Ten, while the Wildcats improved to 6-6 overall and 1-0 in the conference.

"I think today was a humbling match for the Illini," head coach Michelle Dasso said. "Melissa Kopinski continues to play better and better. She really stepped up and got the win. Allison Falkin is finding ways to get it done out there and compete. Those two are phenomenal competitors. But we're not where we need to be right now. Until we can get all nine players to play with that fire and competitiveness, there are some things we need to take care of."

The Illini got off to a slow start, dropping the doubles point for their third consecutive match with losses at Nos. 1 and 2. Junior Breanne Smutko and Kopinski teamed up for the first time this season and helped the Orange and Blue avoid the doubles sweep with an 8-4 win over Veronica Corning and Brittany Wowchuk at No. 3.

Illinois' struggles continued in singles play, as the Illini lost the first three completed matches to go down 4-0. Sophomore Allison Falkin, who is ranked 96th in the nation, put the Illini on the board with a 7-6(5), 6-2 victory over No. 51 Brittany Wowchuk at No. 2 singles, marking her second win over a ranked opponent this spring.

Kopinski followed with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 win over familiar foe No. 118 Belinda Niu at the No. 3 spot to give the Illini their final point. Kopinski and Niu met last fall in an ITA Midwest Regional match, ending in a 6-7, 4-6 loss for the Illini newcomer.

The Orange and Blue will take a week off before heading south to wrap up the nonconference schedule. Illinois will face Rice on Monday, March 19 before traveling to the University of Texas on Wednesday, March 21. Both matches start at 2 p.m. CT.

SINGLES
1. #20 Kate Turvy (NU) def. Marisa Lambropoulos (ILL) 6-3, 6-3
2. #96 Allison Falkin (ILL) def. #51 Brittany Wowchuk (NU) 7-6 (7-5), 6-2
3. Melissa Kopinski (ILL) def. #118 Belinda Niu (NU) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
4. Veronica Corning (NU) def. Rachael White (ILL) 6-2, 6-1
5. Linda Abu Mushrefova (NU) def. Amy Allin (ILL) 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
6. Stacey Lee (NU) def. Misia Kedzierski (ILL) 6-2, 6-3

DOUBLES
1. #4 Linda Abu Mushrefova/Nida Hamilton (NU) def. #40 Rachael White/Allison Falkin (ILL) 8-2
2. Belinda Niu/Kate Turvy (NU) def. Marisa Lambropoulos/Misia Kedzierski (ILL) 8-1
3. Breanne Smutko/Melissa Kopinski (ILL) def. Veronica Corning/Brittany Wowchuk (NU) 8-4

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