University of Illinois
South Florida
@IlliniWTennis Tops South Florida 5-2
February 13, 2016 | Women's Tennis
Fighting Illini improve to 15-3 in dual doubles play
URBANA, Ill. – Illinois Women's Tennis welcomed South Florida to the Atkins Tennis Center for the 11th all-time meeting between the sides and first-ever match hosted by the Fighting Illini. The Orange and Blue sent the Bulls back to Florida empty handed, winning the 5-2 decision to improve to 4-3 on the season. USF is now 1-4 on the 2016 season.
"It was another tough match for our kids and I was really pleased with the way they responded tonight," shared Illinois head coach Evan Clark. "We certainly still have a lot of work to do, but we put ourselves in position to win at every spot tonight and we have seen a lot of positive progress in the last week."
The Fighting Illini got back to their winning ways on the doubles courts, sweeping the three contests. First to finish were Jerricka Boone and Madie Baillon who took down their counterparts 6-1. Alexis Casati and Daniela Pedraza Novak clinched the doubles point for Illinois with a 6-3 decision at No. 3 doubles. Finishing just moments later, Louise Kwong and Ines Vias completed the Illini doubles sweep with a 6-2 decision.
Illinois has now claimed the doubles point in six of seven matches this season.
First off the singles court was Kwong, topping her USF counterpart by a line of 6-3, 6-0 at No. 1. Not far behind, Vias claimed a 7-5, 6-0 decision on court four. Clinching the match for the Illini was Illini junior Casati, who won in a 6-2, 6-3 fashion on court two.
South Florida cut into the Illini score, picking up a win on the third court. Boone fell in straight 7-5 sets. The Bulls added a second point after Pedraza Novak fell to USF's Klaric 0-6, 7-5, 7-5.
The final point of the match would be decided at No. 6, where Baillon and the Bull's Bessonova would decide the contest with a pair of tiebreakers. Baillon came out victorious, providing the final point in Illinois' 5-2 victory on the evening. The Champaign, Illinois, native won by a final line of 7-6(3), 7-6(4).
Looking ahead, Illinois' February homestand will continue as DePaul will visit the Atkins Tennis Center on Feb. 19 before Northwestern makes the trip the following weekend for a Feb. 26 Big Ten showdown.
"We will look to continue to get better this week in practice in order to be ready for DePaul on Friday," stated Clark.
For more coverage of the Orange and Blue visit FIGHTINGILLINI.com and be sure to follow the team on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Illinois 5, USF 2
Doubles
Louise Kwong / Ines Vias def. Cortes Chaves/Martinez – 6-2
Jerricka Boone / Madie Baillon def. Dzenga/Klaric – 6-1
Alexis Casati / Daniela Pedraza Novak def. Cardoso/Murphy – 6-3
Singles
Louise Kwong def. Martinez – 6-3, 6-0
Alexis Casati def. Cortes Chaves – 6-2, 6-3
Roman def. Jerricka Boone – 7-5, 7-5
Ines Vias def. Cordoso – 7-5, 6-0
Klaric def. Daniela Pedraza Novak – 0-6, 7-5, 6-3
Madie Baillon def. Bessonva – 7-6(3), 7-6(4)
