ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Despite suffering a 4-0 loss to No. 10 Michigan this afternoon (April 24), the Illinois women's tennis team concluded regular-season Big Ten play with its best record since the 2012 season at 8-3. UI finished with an overall record of 14-8 and owns the fourth seed at the upcoming Big Ten Tournament. UM closed the regular season with an 18-5 overall record and a 10-1 mark in league play.
"We certainly felt like there were four points to be had out there today," opened Illinois head coach Evan Clark. "Credit to Michigan for being better than us in doubles and three spots in singles today."
Michigan clinched the doubles point to open the day with wins at Nos. 2 and 3 over the Orange and Blue. The Illini freshman tandem of Jaclyn Switkes and Daniela Pedraza Novak suffered a 6-1 loss at No. 3 doubles to Michigan's Ronit Yurovsky and Teona Velehorschi. The No. 2 doubles tally went to UM as well with Najarian/Ruder-Hook topping Illinois' Jerricka Boone and Madie Baillon in a 6-2 decision. Play at the top court was abandoned with the second Wolverine doubles victory.
Singles decisions on the day came at Nos. 3, 5 and 6. First off the court was Baillon for the Illini. The junior fell in a 6-2, 6-2 decision to No. 18 Brienne Minor. Play at No. 6 resulted in Michigan's Velehorschi taking down Jade Hilton of the Illini by a line of 6-2, 6-3 on the afternoon. Michigan clinched the victory at No. 5 when Ruder-Hook defeated Pedraza Novak of the Orange and Blue by a score of 6-3, 6-1.
No. 112 Louise Kwong battled in an unfinished contest with No. 15 Ronit Yurovsky. After dropping the first set 7-6, the junior was knotted at 2-2 upon abandonment. Play at No. 2 was abandoned with a score that saw Ines Vias up a set on No. 74 Kate Fahey of the Wolverines. Additionally, Jaclyn Switkes won the opening set of her match at No. 5 against Najarian and trailed by a slim 4-5 margin in the second frame.
Next up for the Illini is the Big Ten Tournament, hosted by the Michigan State Spartans in East Lansing, Michigan. Play will commence on Thursday, April 28, but the fourth-seeded Illini own a first round bye and will face fifth seed Maryland on Friday, April 29, in a 9 a.m. CT match. Only the top-10 teams in the Big Ten advance to the post-season tournament.
"We will move forward and make sure we are ready for the postseason," Clark stated. "We are excited to make that final push and see if we can put it all together in the tournament."
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RESULTS
Singles
No. 1 -- No. 15 Ronit Yurovsky (U-M) vs. No. 112 Louise Kwong (ILL), 7-6, 2-2, abandoned
No. 2 -- No. 74 Kate Fahey (U-M) vs. Ines Vias (ILL), 5-7, 3-1, abandoned
No. 3 -- No. 18 Brienne Minor (U-M) d. Madie Baillon (ILL), 6-2, 6-2
No. 4 -- Alex Najarian (U-M) vs. Jaclyn Switkes (ILL), 2-6, 4-5, abandoned
No. 5 -- Mira Ruder-Hook (U-M) d. Daniela Pedraza Novak (ILL), 6-3, 6-1
No. 6 -- Teona Velehorschi (U-M) d. Jade Hilton (ILL), 6-2, 6-3
Doubles
No. 1 -- No. 41 Brienne Minor/Kate Fahey (U-M) vs. No. 45 Louise Kwong/Ines Vias (ILL), 5-3, abandoned
No. 2 -- Alex Najarian/Mira Ruder-Hook (U-M) d. Jerricka Boone/Madie Baillon (ILL), 6-2
No. 3 -- Ronit Yurovsky/Teona Velehorschi (U-M) d. Daniela Pedraza Novak/Jaclyn Switkes (ILL), 6-1
Order of Completion: Doubles 3-2; Singles 3-6-5
