FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Illinois women's tennis team fell to No. 27 Arkansas on Friday, 5-1. The Fighting Illini drop to 3-7 on the season, and Arkansas improves to 9-2.
"We had some great chances in doubles," said head coach Evan Clark. "I was really pleased with how we competed with having two new teams in the lineup today."
The doubles point was hotly contested, with Illinois' Louise Kwong and Daniela Pedraza Novak defeating Ana Oparenovic and Mia Jurasic, 6-1, at No. 2 doubles in their first match as a doubles pair. Leolia Jeanjean and Natsuho Arakawa of Arkansas took down Grace Tapak and Jade Hilton at the No. 3 spot, 6-3. The doubles point came down to the No. 1 doubles match, where Shannon Hudson and Giulia Pairone won the point for Arkansas over Madie Baillon and Jaclyn Switkes, 7-5.
In singles, Jurasic defeated Switkes, 6-1, 6-1, at the No. 3 position. Arakawa topped Tapak at No. 5 singles, 6-1, 6-3, to make the score 3-0 Arkansas. The match was clinched at the No. 6 spot, as Pairone earned the victory over Hilton, 6-1, 6-1. The 63rd-ranked singles player in the country, Hudson, defeated Kwong in the No. 1 singles match, 6-2, 6-2.
"I thought Arkansas did a great job in singles," Clark said. "They are a very good team and very tough on their home courts indoors."
Baillon won at the No. 2 position over 88th-ranked Oparenovic, 6-2, 7-5, to make the final score 5-1. The No. 4 singles match between Jeanjean and Pedraza Novak remained unfinished at 7-6 (7-1).
"There are still a lot of great things ahead for this team," Clark said. "We are looking forward to getting back on track against Oklahoma."
UP NEXT
The Illini will face Oklahoma in Norman on Sunday, Feb. 26 at 11 a.m. CT.
Arkansas 5, Illinois 1
DOUBLES
1. Shannon Hudson/Giulia Pairone (AR) def. Madie Baillon/Jaclyn Switkes (ILL) 7-5
2. Louise Kwong/Daniela Pedraza Novak (ILL) def. Ana Oparenovic/Mia Jurasic (AR) 6-1
3. Leolia Jeanjean/Natsuho Arakawa (AR) def. Grace Tapak/Jade Hilton (ILL) 6-3
Order of finish: 2, 3, 1
SINGLES
1. #63 Shannon Hudson (AR) def. Louise Kwong (ILL) 6-2, 6-2
2. #109 Madie Baillon (ILL) def. #88 Ana Oparenovic (AR) 6-2, 7-5
3. Mia Jurasic (AR) def. Jaclyn Switkes (ILL) 6-1, 6-1
4. Leolia Jeanjean (AR) vs. Daniela Pedraza Novak (ILL) 7-6 (7-1), unfinished
5. Natsuho Arakawa (AR) def. Grace Tapak (ILL) 6-1, 6-3
6. Giulia Pairone (AR) def. Jade Hilton (ILL) 6-1, 6-1
Order of finish: 3, 5, 6, 1, 2
