Final Box Score
ATHENS, Ga. – The Fighting Illini women's tennis team took down Georgia State in their first match of the ITA Kickoff Weekend today, 4-2. Illinois improves to 1-2 with the win, while Georgia State falls to 0-3.
"It was great to see our team finally reap the rewards for all their hard work they have put in on and off the court," said head coach Evan Clark. "After coming up a bit short last weekend, it tells me a lot about this team to bounce back and get a great win over a quality team in Georgia State."
The Illini started off strong, winning the doubles point with victories at the No. 1 and No. 2 positions. Louise Kwong and Ines Vias, the 32nd-ranked duo in the nation, defeated Georgia State's pair of Arina Taluyenko and Tarani Kamoe at No. 1 doubles, 6-1. Jaclyn Switkes and Madie Baillon earned a 6-2 win at the No. 2 spot over Damira Muminovic and Kristin Rehse to clinch the point.
"The doubles point was again great for us today," Clark said. "The problem in the past is that we have had trouble carrying that momentum into singles, but we did a better job of that today. We will need to continue to do a better job in that area."
The Panthers' Taluyenko won at No. 4 singles over Baillon, 6-2, 6-4, to earn the first point for Georgia State. Switkes defeated Lara Vovk at the No. 3 spot, 6-1, 6-2, and Alexis Casati earned a victory over Daniela Ramirez, 7-5, 6-2, to give Illinois two more points and make the overall score 3-2. Kwong fell to Rehse at the No. 1 spot, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, but Jade Hilton clinched the match for the Illini, winning the point at No. 6 singles over Anastasia Grosheva, 6-3, 6-1.
"We fought hard in singles across the board," Clark said. "Alexis and Jaclyn did a great job in singles of getting us two straight-set victories to get us three points. Finally, I could not be more pleased with the way Jade stepped into the lineup to clinch the match at No. 6."
Illinois will play host and No. 6 Georgia on Sunday at 4 p.m. CT.
Illinois 4, Georgia State 2
SINGLES:
1. Kristin Rehse (GSU) def. Louise Kwong (ILL) 6-1, 3-6, 6-3
2. Alexis Casati (ILL) def. Daniela Ramirez (GSU) 7-5, 6-2
3. Jaclyn Switkes (ILL) def. Lara Vovk (GSU) 6-1, 6-2
4. Arina Taluyenko (GSU) def. Madie Baillon (ILL) 6-2, 6-4
5. Damira Muminovic (GSU) vs. Daniela Pedraza Novak (ILL) 6-4, 2-2, unfinished
6. Jade Hilton (ILL) def. Anastasia Grosheva (GSU) 6-3, 6-1
Order of finish: 4, 3, 2, 1, 6
DOUBLES:
1. #32 Louise Kwong/Ines Vias (ILL) def. Arina Taluyenko/Tarani Kamoe (GSU) 6-1
2. Jaclyn Switkes/Madie Baillon (ILL) def. Damira Muminovic/Kristin Rehse (GSU) 6-2
3. Daniela Ramirez/Anastasia Grosheva (GSU) vs. Daniela Pedraza Novak/Alexis Casati (ILL) 3-5, unfinished
Order of finish: 1, 2
