Results

URBANA, Ill. - Despite the lopsided 5-2 score, the Illinois women's tennis team gave #20 Notre Dame a run for their money at the Atkins Tennis Center on Saturday, Feb. 14. Illinois moved to 3-2 on the 2015 campaign with the heartbreaking loss to head coach Michelle Dasso's alma mater.

"It was a heartbreaker today, it was a tough one to swallow," said head coach Michelle Dasso. "I really feel like we still could have won that match at singles and I saw a lot of good things out there today but that's just not enough. We've got to raise our level a little bit more."

"You've got to take confidence from today," responded Dasso when asked about the takeaways from playing a top-20 team so closely. "At five of the six positions we're battling in singles and I feel like we could have had five points right there."

The Illini claimed the number three doubles win as Grace Tapak and Alexis Casati defeated the Notre Dame tandem by a 6-3 decision after Melissa Kopinski and Louise Kwong fell to the #14 ranked doubles team by a 6-1 mark. Court two ultimately decided the doubles point as Jade Hilton and Jerricka Boone ended on the unfavorable side of the 6-4 score.

Notre Dame's Mary Closs made quick work of Boone on court four as the Irish took a 2-0 lead in the match with the 6-0, 6-4 win. Kopinski answered at number three singles to get Illinois on the scoreboard with a 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 win. Casati finished up next on court one over Gleason by a line of 7-6(5), 7-5 to tie the match 2-2.

Despite falling in the first set at two singles 1-6, Kwong battled back to take the next set 6-4 and force a third. Notre Dame's Robinson clinched the point for the Irish with a 6-4 win in the final set.

Hilton entered the contest with an unblemished 3-0 dual singles record on the young spring season. Allison Miller of Notre Dame ended the streak with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 win over the Illini freshman. Tapak had a chance to stay unbeaten as her match at number six singles would finish despite the already 4-2 Notre Dame advantage. The freshman fell 7-5 in a close first set before making a 6-3 statement in the next set to force a third. In a down to the wire contest, Fennelly of Notre Dame was the victor of the 7-6(5) decision.

"We're excited about getting back to work tomorrow and hopefully it's a different outcome," said Dasso.

Following Sunday's matches against Marquette (11 a.m.) and Chicago State (4 p.m.) Illinois has a weekend off before returning to action on March 1 at the Atkins Tennis Center. The match will feature No. 44 Illinois up against No. 52 Indiana to open Big Ten play. Action is set for noon and will be the final match of Illinois' five-match home stand ranging from Feb. 7 - March 1.