CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Illinois women's tennis team continues to wrap up the fall competition season. Head coach Michelle Dasso's crew is split for the weekend events as part of the team traveled to the Clay Court Invitational while the remaining players are competing at the Schwartz Challenge hosted by Purdue University.

Action from the Basham Courts at the Schwartz Tennis Center in West Lafayette, Indiana came to a close on the first day of the event. The Illini split on the day at 4-4, posting identical 2-2 records in both the singles and doubles competitions.

In the doubles event Grace Tapak and Jerricka Boone defeated Miami's (OH)Hannah Shleyn and Alix Thurman 8-2 before being taken down by Purdue's Suarez/Kapitany combination 8-4 in the next round.

Madie Baillon and Jade Hilton bested Ana Rajikovic and Christine Guerrazzi from Miami (OH) in the opening round of doubles action before falling to Purdue's Djokovic/Robinson tandem 8-4.

Tapak picked up a win over Elle Stokes of Louisville in singles action 6-4, 6-4. Baillon accounted for the second Illinois individual victory as she topped Louisville's Olivia Boesing 6-2, 6-4.

Hilton fell to Ariana Rodriguez of Louisville 7-5, 6-2 while Boone was defeated by Jessie Lynn Paul of Louisville 7-5, 7-5.

Former Illini player Christine Stromberg traveled to Purdue with the team and shared her thoughts on the day's action: "We had a good first day of competition. The girls started off the day with solid doubles play. They continued to compete hard in singles and each player showed improvements they have made this fall. We certainly still have some things to focus on the rest of the weekend."

Meanwhile with coach Dasso in Florida the Orange and Blue did not fair as well.

In the "B" singles draw Louise Kwong was defeated by Northwestern's Lon Sze Leung 6-1, 6-2 in the round of 16. Over in the "B" doubles draw Kwong and Alexis Casati were stopped in the quarterfinals by Clemson's Eidukonyte/Ruiz duo 8-1.

The lone win of the day for the Illini in Orlando was Casati's "A" consolation draw round of 16 victory over Carola Pederzani from Clemson 4-6, 6-4, 10-0.

Melissa Kopinski fell to USF's Olga Martinez 6-2, 6-4 in the "A" consolation round of 16. Julia Jamieson lost in the same round of the "B" consolation draw. Jamieson was defeated 6-3, 6-2 by Daniela Ruiz of Clemson.

Both groups of Illini athletes will see more action on Saturday, November 1 with the action lasting all day.

More information about the Clay Court Invitational can be found on the tournament website http://www.seminoles.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&SPSID=917069&SPID=157121&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=209717376&DB_OEM_ID=32900 . Updates will be available on Twitter: @IlliniWTennis and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IlliniWTennis.