Results (PDF) | Coach Clark Interview
URBANA, Ill. – Illinois Women's Tennis hung tough in Friday night's match against the DePaul Blue Demons at the Atkins Tennis Center. The Orange and Blue jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the match but the Blue Demons battled back to claim the regional contest by a 4-3 decision. UI is now 4-4 on the season, while DePaul improves to 3-5.
"The doubles point, as we've found out this year, doesn't really mean much," said Illinois head coach Evan Clark. "We have got to come out and play better in singles. Credit to DePaul, they outplayed us in several spots and were a little bit tougher than us tonight."
The Fighting Illini showed their doubles dominance against the Blue Demons, taking the opening point for the seventh time this season. First off the court was the duo of Jerricka Boone and Madie Baillon, taking down their counterparts 6-2 and never trailing in the contest. Illinois would clinch the doubles point at No. 1, thanks to Louise Kwong and Ines Vias clinching a break for the 6-4 decision over DePaul's Patricia Lancranjan and Rebeca Mitrea. The Orange and Blue are now 17-3 in completed doubles contests on the year.
Alexis Casati and Daniela Pedraza Novak led the tiebreaker at No. 3 1-0 when the Orange and Blue clinched the doubles tally. The unfinished contest was the duo's first of the dual season.
To open singles play, Baillon made quick work of her DePaul opposition at No. 6, defeating Milica Tesic 6-0, 6-0 to give the Fighting Illini a 2-0 advantage in the match.
DePaul battled back, taking the next three points for a 3-2 advantage.
Play at No. 5 was the second singles match to finish. The Blue Demon's Jarret Fisher picked up a 6-3, 6-0 decision over Pedraza Novak. Next off the court, were Casati and DePaul's Lancranjan from No. 2. Casati fell in a 6-4, 6-1 decision.
With the Blue Demons one match away from winning the contest, attention was divided between Kwong at No. 1 and Vias at No. 4.
Action at No. 1 would wrap up just moments before Vias picked up the final point for the Illini. On the first court, Kwong hung tough against DePaul's Shupenia. Despite falling 7-5 in the opening set Kwong kept fighting, forcing a second-set tiebreaker to extend play. After jumping ahead 3-0 in the breaker, Shupenia battled back. The sides were knotted at 4-4 before DePaul took the next three points for the match's decision.
The contest on court four would be played out for the final score. After claiming the first set by a 6-3 decision, Vias couldn't hold on to a second set lead, ultimately falling 4-6. The freshman battled back though, jumping out to an early 3-1 lead and went on to win the final frame 6-4.
Illinois will close its February homestand next Friday night when Northwestern comes to town to open Big Ten play. The first serve of the contest is slated for 6 p.m.
"We've got a wonderful opportunity next Friday night, getting Northwestern at home," stated Clark. "I think the girls will get up for that match and we can turn this thing around."
For more coverage of the Orange and Blue visit FIGHTINGILLINI.com and be sure to follow the team on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
#49 DePaul 4, #52 Illinois 3
Doubles
No. 1: Louise Kwong / Ines Vias def. Lancranjan/Mitrea – 6-4
No. 2: Jerricka Boone / Madie Baillon def. Shupenia/Tesic – 6-2
No. 3: Alexis Casati / Daniela Pedraza Novak vs. Fisher/Sufi – 6-6(1-0), unfinished
Singles
No. 1: Shupenia (DePaul) def. Louise Kwong – 7-5, 7-6(4)
No. 2: Lancranjan (DePaul) def. Alexis Casati – 6-4, 6-1
No. 3: Mitrea (DePaul) def. Jerricka Boone – 6-2, 6-4
No. 4: Ines Vias def. Sufi (DePaul) – 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
No. 5: Fisher (DePaul) def. Daniela Pedraza Novak – 6-3, 6-0
No. 6: Madie Baillon def. Tesic (DePaul) – 6-0, 6-0
