Results (PDF)

EVANSTON, Ill. - The Fighting Illini women's tennis team fell to No. 26 Northwestern on Friday, March 20, by a 6-1 decision to open its spring break road trip. Illinois moved to 7-5 on the season and is still seeking its first conference win.

"My top three singles players have been fighting their tails off and playing good ball," shared head coach Michelle Dasso. "We are at the halfway point in our season and need to find a way to get everyone fully engaged and playing with a sense of urgency. I feel a little redundant saying this but the doubles point is key."

To open the doubles slate, both Illinois Big Ten programs gave convincing performances, but ultimately the Evanston crew took the first point of the match.

Play wrapped up on doubles court two first. Jerricka Boone and Madie Baillon evened the contest at 5-5, but their Northwestern counterparts took the next three games to take the 8-5 decision. Court three wrapped up next with Alexis Casati and Grace Tapak losing the final five games to fall 8-3. #68 Melissa Kopinski and Louise Kwong didn't finish their match on court one.

With Northwestern up 1-0 the Wildcats took the first set on every singles court, except number three, where Kwong won the 6-3 contest. Illinois also fell in the second set on courts three and below. Casati took the second set at No.1 singles 7-6(4), while Kopinski also took her second set by a 7-6(2) decision.

Casati took the point at No. 1 singles by a 10-2 decision in the deciding tiebreaker with a final line of 1-6, 7-6 (7-4), 1-0 (10-2). Kopinski's comeback fell just short in the tiebreaker by a 10-8 mark. The scorecard on court two read 6-4, 6-7(2), 1-0(8).

Despite taking the only first set over the Wildcats, Kwong fell on court three 6-3, 6-7(5), 1-0(8).

Illinois is back in action on Tuesday, March 24, at UC Santa Barbara. Doubles action is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. CST.

Singles competition

1. Alexis Casati (ILL) def. Alicia Barnett (NU) 1-6, 7-6 (7-4), 1-0 (10-2)
2. Erin Larner (NU) def. Melissa Kopinski (ILL) 6-4, 6-7 (2-7), 1-0 (10-8)
3. Alex Chatt (NU) def. Louise Kwong (ILL) 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 1-0 (10-7)
4. Lok Sze Leung (NU) def. Grace Tapak (ILL) 6-0, 6-1
5. Rheeya Doshi (NU) def. Madie Baillon (ILL) 7-5, 6-2
6. Brooke Rischbieth (NU) def. Jade Hilton (ILL) 7-5, 6-1

Doubles competition

1. Erin Larner/Brooke Rischbieth (NU) vs. #68 Melissa Kopinski/Louise Kwong (ILL) 6-5, unfinished
2. Alex Chatt/Alicia Barnett (NU) def. Jerricka Boone/Madie Baillon (ILL) 8-5
3. Rheeya Doshi/Lok Sze Leung (NU) def. Alexis Casati/Grace Tapak (ILL) 8-3

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