Oct. 16, 2014
Tournament Central
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Head coach Michelle Dasso’s Illinois women’s tennis team returned to the courts after a two-week break. The Illini finished the first day of the USTA/ITA Midwest Regional hosted at the Atkins Tennis Center unbeaten with eight victories.
Sophomore-transfer Madie Baillon started things off for the Illini with a 6-0, 6-1 win over Annina Brendel of Youngstown State in the opening match. In the second round Baillon took down Michigan State’s Athena Truilloit by scores of 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.
Julia Jamieson picked up her first of two wins on the day over UIC’s Keti Mebuke after battling to a 6-2, 7-6(4) final. In the afternoon the senior defeated Karolina Maksimova of Akron 6-1, 6-3.
In her morning contest, Jerricka Boone was victorious over Maria Aerginos from Wisconsin 6-3, 3-6, 6-1. Boone took down Michigan State’s Catherine Parenteau in the second round 2-6, 7-5, 6-2.
Jade Hilton had a first round bye and then defeated Toledo’s Sidney Huck 6-3, 6-1 in the second round contest.
Outside in the consolation draw Grace Tapak took down Alejandra Barcelo from Eastern Michigan 7-6(4), 6-4.
Dasso shared her thoughts on the Illini’s first day success “I was impressed with the team’s competitive spirit and play across the board today. Julia, Madie and Jerricka played two singles matches back to back and look fit and fresh. Overall we went 8-0 on day number one so clearly a solid team showing and start to the tournament.”
All four of Illinois’ pre-qualifier competitors will play at 9:00 a.m. on Friday in the round of 16. The first round of doubles action will begin in the afternoon. Dasso has three tandems in draw: Melissa Kopinski with Louise Kwong, Alexis Casati with Jerricka Boone and Grace Tapak in combination with Madie Baillon.
More information, including live video links, can be found on the tournament website at http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/w-tennis/spec-rel/ita-regional-2014.html. Updates will be available on Twitter:@IlliniWTennis and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fighting-Illini-Womens-Tennis/.
