Results (PDF) | Clark Interview | Vias Interview
URBANA, Ill. – No. 50 Illinois Women's Tennis took care of business Friday night from the Atkins Tennis Center, picking up a 5-2 victory over 68th-ranked Indiana. The Big Ten victory marked the sixth-straight win for the Orange and Blue who now own a record of 11-6 and a 5-1 mark in league play. IU fell to 13-7 overall and 3-3 in conference action with the loss. Illinois has won the last eight matches over Indiana.
"I thought everyone stepped in to the different roles really well today," shared Illinois head coach Evan Clark. "Ines did a great job at two, Madie did a good job at three. That's the great thing about our team, we have some depth, especially at the bottom."
Illinois continued to control the doubles courts, taking the doubles point over the Hoosiers. UI has claimed the opening tally in 15-of-17 matches this season. The Orange and Blue own a combined tally of 33-9 in dual doubles play after tonight's results.
Louise Kwong and Ines Vias won their sixth-consecutive doubles match, improving their record to 20-6 together on the year. The Illini's top tandem took care of Indiana's duo of Kim Schmider and Stephanie Smith in a quick 6-2 fashion. The sides were knotted at 2-2 before the Illini team ran away with the next four games.
Alexis Casati and Daniela Pedraza Novak were next off the court. The duo lost just their third match when working together in today's 6-3 decision that favored Indiana's Wolf and Appel duo.
All eyes turned to No. 2 doubles where Jerricka Boone and Madie Baillon pulled off their third win in Big Ten play of the season. With the contest tied at 6-6, Boone and Baillon ran away with the tiebreaker in a 7-1 decision to earn Illinois the match's opening point.
"I think we won a tight doubles point; to our girls' credit, they found a way," Clark said. "Ines and Lou were able to take care of business at one, and then Jerricka and Madie were able to tough out a 7-6 breaker to win the doubles point."
Heading into singles with a 1-0 lead, Jaclyn Switkes extended her winning streak to five with a quick 6-3, 6-2 victory at No. 5 singles. The Illini freshman is now 3-0 at No. 5 and improved to a perfect 5-0 in Big Ten play with the win.
At the opposite end of the Atkins Tennis Center, Jade Hilton took down Indiana's Kim Schmider in a 6-3, 6-3 decision. Hilton improved to 3-0 in dual play and extended her winning streak to four-consecutive matches with the victory.
In her first appearance at No. 2 singles for the Illini, Vias did not disappoint. The Illini freshman won her decision over Indiana's Madison Appel in straight sets of 6-4, 7-6(3). Vias' victory clinched the win for the Illinois squad. Vias is now 15-10 during her debut season in the Orange and Blue.
Baillon made her first appearance of the season at No. 3 on the singles courts. The junior kept close in the opening set and was even at 5-5 before Indiana's McLean claimed the set's final two games. Baillon led 2-1 in the second set, but her counterpart pocketed five of the next six games to win the match.
The Hoosiers claimed their final tally of the evening at No. 4, where Stephanie Smith defeated Boone by a line of 0-6, 6-3, 6-3.
Kwong pulled out a three-set victory on the top court to improve to 4-2 in Big Ten play. The junior defeated Indiana's Paula Gutierrez in a 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 decision. Kwong has now won her last four decisions, all on the top court.
The Orange and Blue are back at the Atkins Tennis Center on Sunday, April 10, to host Purdue. The Boilermakers entered the weekend with a 9-9 overall record and a 2-3 reading in league play and will face Northwestern before heading south to Champaign.
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NO. 50 ILLINOIS 5, NO. 68 INDIANA 2
Singles
1: Louise Kwong def. Paula Gutierrez (IU) – 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
2: Ines Vias def. Madison Appel (IU) – 6-4, 7-6(3)
3: Sarah McLean (IU) def. Madie Baillon – 7-5, 6-3
4: Stephanie Smith (IU) def. Jerricka Boone – 0-6, 6-3, 6-3
5: Jaclyn Switkes def. Danielle Wolf (IU) – 6-3, 6-2
6: Jade Hilton def. Kim Schmider (IU) – 6-3, 6-3
Doubles
1: No. 43 Louise Kwong/Ines Vias def. Kim Schmider/Stephanie Smith (IU) – 6-2
2: Jerricka Boone/Madie Baillon def. Paula Gutierrez/Sarah McLean (IU) – 7-6(1)
3: Danielle Wolf/Madison Appel (IU) def. Alexis Casati/Daniela Pedraza Novak – 6-3
Order of Finish: 1, 3, 2 & 5, 6, 2, 3, 4, 1
