Live Scoring | Season Stats
URBANA, Ill. – In its first matches away from the Atkins Tennis Center in over a month, the Illinois women's tennis team is headed for Madison, Wisconsin, for a pair of non-conference contests. UI and Wisconsin will square off in a match that will not count towards Big Ten play on Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. CT. The following day, March 5, the Fighting Illini will take on No. 30 William & Mary in a neutral site competition with the first serve slated for 2 p.m. CT.
HISTORY AGAINST THE BADGERS & THE TRIBE
UW holds a slim 23-19 advantage in the all-time series against the Illini, but UI has claimed the last four decisions. During the 2015 dual slate, Illinois topped the Badgers in Madison 4-3. The victory during the 2014 season was at Wisconsin as well. The Fighting Illini and Badgers have met at least once every season beginning in the 1981-82 campaign. UW enters the weekend with a 3-6 dual record, playing all but one match at home.
The contest between William & Mary and the Orange and Blue will be the sixth meeting all-time between the sides and the third at a neutral site. UI is searching for its first win over the Tribe this weekend. Since the initiation of national rankings on the women's side in 1988, William & Mary has never ranked below 44th when facing the Illini program. In the most recent meeting during the 2007 season, the Tribe took down Illinois by a 6-1 decision at the Atkins Tennis Center. William & Mary enters the weekend with an 8-4 record in spring play.
IN THE RANKINGS
In the most recent rankings, the Fighting Illini moved to No. 65 following their loss to now No. 42 Northwestern last weekend. Individually, Louise Kwong ranks No. 113 in the latest singles rankings.
Wisconsin's Lauren Chypyha ranks 44th in the most recent individual rankings, while the Badgers are unranked as a team.
William & Mary came in at 30th in the latest Oracle/ITA rankings, jumping 12 spots from its ranking of 42nd the previous week. The Tribe has one ranked singles player in Elizaveta Nemchinov at No. 89.
ILLINI DOUBLES DOMINANCE
Last weekend against Northwestern, Louise Kwong and Ines Vias took down the 13th-ranked tandem in the nation, 6-2, at No. 1. The Illini duo jumped out to a 4-0 lead over the top-25 team and before finishing the Wildcat pair off. This marks the second top-25 tandem that Kwong and Vias have defeated this season, while allowing their opposition a combined three games total in the two victories.
As a team, Illinois has claimed the doubles point in seven of the season's eight matches. UI relinquished its lone opening tally against Kentucky, who was ranked 22nd at the time. The Orange and Blue combine for a 19-4 record in doubles play this season with four matches going unfinished.
FOLLOW THE ILLINI
For more coverage of the Orange and Blue visit FIGHTINGILLINI.com and be sure to follow the team on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
