Results

Results

EAST LANSING, Mich. - No. 66 Illinois nearly did something that no other team in the Big Ten had done yet this season, beat the Michigan State women's tennis team. The Fighting Illini fell just short in the 4-3 decision that favored the Spartans on Saturday, March 28, in East Lansing, Michigan.

Illinois clinched the doubles point for the third-straight match. Jerricka Boone and Madie Baillon took care of business on the second court with an 8-1 decision. The sophomore duo combined for their fourth win of the season, and third straight victory. On the first court, Melissa Kopinski and Louise Kwong picked up a team-best eighth win with an 8-3 victory. Alexis Casati and Grace Tapak were ahead 7-3 when Illinois claimed the doubles point.

Michigan State evened the match with a win on court six. Julia Jamieson fell in straight sets of 6-0, 6-2 to her Spartan counterpart. Kwong moved to 8-5 on the season with her 6-2, 6-0 win on court three. Kopinski finished next with a 6-4, 6-3 decision over Michigan State's Lexi Baylis. The win was Kopinski's eighth of the season and gave the Fighting Illini a 3-1 advantage in the match.

Next, Casati fell 6-1, 7-6(3) to Erin Faulkner on court one. Boone fell in a heartbreaker on court five by a line of 5-7, 6-1, 4-6. The Michigan State victory tied the contest at 3-3.

All eyes were on court four where the Big Ten match would be decided. Tapak fell in the first set tiebreaker 7-6(5) before snagging the second set 6-1. The freshman battled in the third set but ultimately fell 4-6 to Michigan State's Catherine Parenteau.

Tomorrow, the Fighting Illini will hit Ann Arbor to take on the Michigan Wolverines at 11 a.m. CST.