TUSCALOOSA, ALA. – Illinois fell to Washington on Sunday, 5-2, in the second match of its season. The Fighting Illini move to 0-2 on the season, while the Huskies improve to 4-0.
"The girls made great adjustments today," said head coach Evan Clark. "I'm proud of them on doing that. In singles we really competed and fought the whole match. I couldn't be more pleased with their effort; we just came up a little bit short."
Illinois started the match off by winning the doubles point. Alexis Casati and Daniela Pedraza Novak defeated Washington's pair of Kenadi Hance and Katarina Kopcalic, 6-2, at the No. 3 spot. At No. 2 doubles, Madie Baillon and Jaclyn Switkes defeated Stacey Fung and Alexis Prokopuik, 6-3.
"The doubles point went fantastic today," said head coach Evan Clark. "We played really well. We were aggressive and just did a really good job."
In singles, Hance defeated Ines Vias, 6-1, 6-2 at the No. 5 position. Louise Kwong fell to Fung at No. 1 singles, 7-5, 6-2. At No. 6 singles, Pedraza Novak was defeated by Kopcalic, 7-6(4), 6-4. Miki Kobayashi clinched the match for the Huskies at the No. 3 spot, 7-6(4), 6-4, over Switkes.
Baillon earned her second singles win of the spring season at No. 4 singles, with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Prokopuik. Casati fell to Nour Abbes at the No. 2 position, 6-2, 5-7, 7-6(2).
"Credit to the girls for fighting to the end," Clark said. "They competed all weekend and I'm really pleased with where we are at. We lost to two very good teams this weekend. These losses will certainly make us better and tougher."
UP NEXT
The Illini will head to Athens, Ga., to play in the ITA Kickoff Weekend. Illinois will start with Georgia State on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 8 am CT, and will play a second TBA opponent on Sunday, Jan. 29.
SINGLES:
1. Stacey Fung (Washington) def. Louise Kwong (Illinois) 7-5, 6-2
2. Nour Abbes (Washington) def. Alexis Casati (Illinois) 6-2, 5-7, 7-6(2)
3. Miki Kobayashi (Washington) def. Jaclyn Switkes (Illinois) 7-6(4), 6-4
4. Madie Baillon (Illinois) def. Alexis Prokopuik (Washington) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
5. Kenadi Hance (Washington) def. Ines Vias (Illinois) 6-1, 6-2
6. Katarina Kopcalic (Washington) def. Daniela Novak (Illinois) 7-6(4), 6-4
Order of finish: 5, 1, 6, 3, 4, 2
DOUBLES:
1. No. 35 Miki Kobayashi/Nour Abbes (Washington) vs. No. 32 Louise Kwong/Ines Vias (Illinois) 5-3 DNF
2. Madie Baillon/Jaclyn Switkes (Illinois) def. Stacey Fung/Alexis Prokopuik (Washington) 6-3
3. Alexis Casati/Daniela Novak (Illinois) def. Kenadi Hance/Katarina Kopcalic (Washington) 6-2
Order of finish: 3, 2
