Results (PDF)
URBANA, Ill. – Illinois Women's Tennis extended its winning streak to five with a 4-1 victory over No. 75 Nebraska on Sunday, April 3, from the Atkins Tennis Center. The win moved the Illini to 10-6 on the dual season and 4-1 in Big Ten play. UI dealt the Huskers just the fourth loss of their season as they moved to 17-4; 4-3 in the Big Ten.
"Another great day for us," opened Illinois head coach Evan Clark. "I was really pleased with our play as we took care of business in both doubles and singles."
For the 14th time in 16 matches, the Orange and Blue claimed the doubles point against an opponent. The Illini picked up a quick 6-0 win from No. 46 Louise Kwong and Ines Vias at No. 1 doubles. Kwong and Vias are now 5-0 in Big Ten play, 11-2 on the dual season and 19-6 overall.
"Ines and Lou won 6-0 at No. 1, they've continued to do a good job," said Clark. "There's a reason that they are ranked so high."
Alexis Casati and Daniela Pedraza Novak teamed up at No. 3 doubles to provide the decider. The Illini duo topped Nebraska's Matysova/Maddox-Herr team in a 6-4 decision. Casati and Pedraza Novak improved to 11-2 on the spring with the victory.
With today's victories, the Illini are now 31-8 in completed doubles matches this season.
Vias continued her dominance at No. 3 singles, where the freshman defeated Lisa Andersson in straight-sets of 6-3, 6-1.
Baillon followed suit and put away Nebraska's Vasanti Shinde in a 6-2, 6-4 fashion at No. 4 singles to give the Orange and Blue a 3-0 lead in the match. The Illini junior is now 12-3 on the dual season and owns an unblemished mark of 5-0 in league play after her sixth-straight victory.
Nebraska picked up its lone tally of the day at No. 5 singles where Matysova got the best of Boone in straight sets of 6-3, 6-3.
Kwong put the finishing touches on the Illini victory with a 7-5, 6-4 win on the top court. The win was Kwong's third-straight victory, who is now 7-7 on the dual campaign.
The remaining matches were abandoned once Illinois clinched the win. Casati and Jaclyn Switkes were each within a single game of claiming victories of their own when the matches were called.
"Similar to the Iowa match, I thought we played really well in singles," Clark shared. "We came out and got good starts and made some good adjustments. We also did a good job closing again."
NEXT UP
The Fighting Illini will continue their current homestand next weekend as Indiana and Purdue come to town for another Friday-Sunday slate.
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NO. 53 ILLINOIS 4, NO. 75 NEBRASKA 1
Doubles
1: Louise Kwong/Ines Vias (ILL) def. Lehmicke/Andersson (NEB) – 6-0
2: Jerricka Boone/Madie Baillon (ILL) vs. Hanna/Shinde (NEB) – 3-5, unfinished
3: Alexis Casati/Daniela Pedraza Novak (ILL) def. Matysova/Maddox-Herr (NEB) – 6-4
Singles
1: Louise Kwong (ILL) def. Maggy Lehmicke (NEB) – 7-5, 6-4
2: Alexis Casati (ILL) vs. Zoe Douglas (NEB) – 3-6, 6-1, 5-3, unfinished
3: Ines Vias (ILL) def. Lisa Andersson (NEB) – 6-3, 6-1
4: Madie Baillon (ILL) def. Vasanti Shinde (NEB) – 6-2, 6-4
5: Katerina Matysova (NEB) def. Jerricka Boone (ILL) – 6-3, 6-3
6: Jaclyn Switkes (ILL) vs. Mackenna Maddox-Herr (NEB) – 6-3, 5-3, unfinished
Order of finish: 1, 3 & 3, 4, 5, 1
