IUPUI Results (PDF) | Eastern Illinois Results (PDF) | Clark Interview | Switkes Interview

URBANA, Ill. – Illinois Women's Tennis opened the 2016 dual season by sweeping both IUPUI and Eastern Illinois at the Atkins Tennis Center in a double header. Additionally, the Fighting Illini picked up straight-set victories in all but one singles match on the day. UI now owns a 2-0 dual record.

"It was really important for us to get a couple of dual matches under our belt, especially for the freshmen who have never played in a dual match before," head coach Evan Clark said of the victories. "Our goal was to get our feet wet and get some of the kinks and nervousness out and I think that's just what we did today."

In the season opener against IUPUI, the Illini got off to a hot start and never looked back, sweeping the Jaguars, 7-0. On the first doubles court, Jerricka Boone and Madie Baillon blanked their counterparts 6-0. The second-court combination of Alexis Casati and Daniela Pedraza Novak went trailed 2-1 but won five-straight games to pull out the 6-2 victory. Jaclyn Switkes and Jade Hilton also won by a 6-2 decision.

All six singles matches were decided in straight sets in favor of the Orange and Blue. First off the court was Hilton, who blanked her court-five opponent, 6-0, 6-0. Pedraza Novak picked up the next victory, working to a 6-1, 6-0 win on court three

On court one, Louise Kwong also blanked her IUPUI counterpart in a set, winning by a line of 6-0, 6-1. After going down 2-1 in the first set, Baillon ran off five-straight games and ultimately won the match 6-2, 6-1 on court four. Grace Tapak put away her opponent on court six in a 6-2, 6-1 decision.

The final score of the match was decided on the second court where Boone got the best of her opponent in a 6-3, 6-4 fashion to secure the sweep over IUPUI.

Illinois swept doubles action against the Panthers to go a perfect 6-0 on the day. Kwong and Ines Vias teamed up on court one to take down their opponents in a 6-2 fashion. Boone and Baillon swept their counterparts for the second time on the day, winning 6-0 on the second court. Third court doubles competition saw Casati and Pedraza Novak put together a 6-4 win.

Singles action concluded on court six first, as Switkes picked up a straight-set victory with a line of 6-0, 6-1. Next off the court was Kwong, who put together a 6-0, 6-3 win on court two. Third to finish was Casati at No. 1 singles, who won 6-2, 6-4. Pedraza Novak finished next, topping her counterpart 6-0, 6-4 at No. 5 singles.

Vias picked up the next point over on court four. The freshman clinched the first-set tiebreaker, allowing her opponent just one point and then claimed the second set by a 6-4 reading. Boone was again the final score's deciding factor and secured the double sweep for the Orange and Blue on court three. The Illinois junior was victorious by a line of 6(5)-7, 7-5, 1-0 (10-7).  

The Illini will hit the road next weekend to compete in the ITA Kick-Off Weekend. UI selected to participate at the Texas Tech campus site to join Virginia Tech, Oregon and the hosts. If the Illinois squad wins its first match against Virginia Tech and the match the following day, the Orange and Blue will earn an invitation to play in the 2016 ITA National Women's Team Indoor Championship hosted by Wisconsin from Feb. 5-8.

"I think we have an unlimited amount of potential that we haven't tapped into yet," Clark shared in regards to what he was most looking forward to. "It all starts next Saturday when we play Virginia Tech."

For more coverage of the Orange and Blue visit FIGHTINGILLINI.com and be sure to follow the team on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

#58 ILLINOIS VS. IUPUI

Doubles

1. Jerricka Boone / Madie Baillon (ILL) def. Samantha Mayer/Sara Sherif (IUPUI) - 6-0

2. Alexis Casati / Daniela Pedraza Nova (ILL) def. Brigitte Swartwood/Rachel Swartwood (IUPUI) - 6-2

3. Jaclyn Switkes / Jade Hilton (ILL) def. Valeriia Lavrenchuk/Mariella Pessina (IUPUI) - 6-2

Singles

1. Louise Kwong (ILL) def. Valeriia Lavrenchuk (IUPUI) - 6-0, 6-1

2. #114 Jerricka Boone (ILL) def. Rachel Swartwood (IUPUI) - 6-3, 6-4

3. Daniela Pedraza Nova (ILL) def. Samantha Mayer (IUPUI) - 6-1, 6-0

4. Madie Baillon (ILL) def. Mariella Pessina (IUPUI) - 6-2, 6-1

5. Jade Hilton (ILL) def. Brigitte Swartwood (IUPUI) - 6-0, 6-0

6. Grace Tapak (ILL) def. Bobbi Modesto (IUPUI) - 6-2, 6-1

#58 ILLINOIS VS. EASTERN ILLINOIS

Doubles

1. Louise Kwong / Ines Vias (ILL) def. Grace Summers/Hannah Kimbrough (EIU) - 6-2

2. Jerricka Boone / Madie Baillon (ILL) def. Kelly Iden/Ali Foster (EIU) - 6-0

3. Alexis Casati / Daniela Pedraza Nova (ILL) def. Srishti Slaria/Kamile Stadalninkait (EIU) - 6-4

Singles

1. Alexis Casati (ILL) def. Kelly Iden (EIU) - 6-2, 6-4

2. Louise Kwong (ILL) def. Ali Foster (EIU) - 6-0, 6-3

3. Jerricka Boone (ILL) def. Grace Summers (EIU) - 6-7 (5-7), 7-5, 1-0 (10-7)

4. Ines Vias (ILL) def. Hannah Kimbrough (EIU) - 7-6 (7-1), 6-4

5. Daniela Pedraza Nova (ILL) def. Srishti Slaria - (EIU) 6-0, 6-4

6. Jaclyn Switkes (ILL) def. Kamile Stadalninkait - (EIU) 6-0, 6-1