B1G Women's Tennis Championship Central
URBANA, Ill. – The Illinois women's tennis team defeated No. 47 Maryland on Friday in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Women's Tennis Championship, 4-2. The Fighting Illini improve to 14-12 on the season and will advance to play No. 1 seed Ohio State on Saturday at 10 a.m. CT at Atkins Tennis Center.
"It feels great, given the circumstances," said head coach Evan Clark. "I feel like the odds were stacked against us, going indoors right away, losing the doubles point, getting on only three courts against a dangerous team…I couldn't be more pleased with the effort. We've competed all year, and we competed really well today. I'm just really happy for the girls."
The win over Maryland is the second for Illinois this season, who previously defeated the Terrapins at home on March 26 by a score of 5-2. On that day, the Illini won the doubles point. This time around, Maryland struck first. Alexandra Stanova and Kristina Hovsepyan defeated Louise Kwong and Ines Vias at No. 1 doubles, 6-4, and the duo of Cassandre Thebault and Arnelle Sullivan clinched the point for Maryland with a 7-5 win at the No. 3 spot over Alexis Casati and Daniela Pedraza Novak.
With the match indoors, the Illinois and Maryland split the six courts at Atkins with the match between Nebraska and Ohio State. A blind draw was used to determine which three singles matches would play first, and the No. 1, No. 3 and No. 6 singles matches were selected.
Kwong would even the score, earning the victory at No. 1 singles for the Illini over Stanova, 6-1, 6-4. At No. 3 singles, Sullivan defeated Madie Baillon, 6-4, 6-4, to give Maryland a 2-1 lead.
The rest of the match would be all Illinois. From her No. 6 spot, Grace Tapak won the match against Caroline Williams, 6-1, 7-6 (7-3) to tie the score at 2-2. Pedraza Novak earned the victory at No. 5 singles over Kate Yemelyanenka, 6-0, 6-3, and Jaclyn Switkes clinched the match for the Orange and Blue immediately after with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Hovsepyan at the No. 4 position.
"This will be the fourth time we have played (Ohio State) in two years," Clark said. "We know we need a special performance, but I think the setting is really unique with us being at home, the Big Ten Tournament being on our home courts and playing the No. 1 seed. That's what we just talked about in the locker room, I don't think it gets any more special than that. We are playing for the four season. We have four seniors on this team who have meant a lot and to send them off with a win against Ohio State would be really special."
UP NEXT
Illinois will play No. 1 seed Ohio State at 10 a.m. at Atkins Tennis Center in the semifinals of Big Ten Women's Tennis Championship.
Illinois 4, No. 47 Maryland 2
DOUBLES
1. Alexandra Stanova/Kristina Hovsepyan (UMD) def. Louise Kwong/Ines Vias (ILL) 6-4
2. Madie Baillon/Jaclyn Switkes (ILL) vs. Ekaterina Tour/Caroline Williams (UMD) 5-5, unfinished
3. Cassandre Thebault/Arnelle Sullivan (UMD) def. Alexis Casati/Daniela Pedraza Novak (ILL) 7-5
Order of finish: 1, 3*
SINGLES
1. Louise Kwong (ILL) def. Alexandra Stanova (UMD) 6-1, 6-4
2. Alexis Casati (ILL) vs. Ekaterina Tour (UMD) 3-6, 2-4, unfinished
3. Arnelle Sullivan (UMD) def. Madie Baillon (ILL) 6-4, 6-4
4. Jaclyn Switkes (ILL) def. Kristina Hovsepyan (UMD) 6-1, 6-2
5. Daniela Pedraza Novak (ILL) def. Kate Yemelyanenka (UMD) 6-0, 6-3
6. Grace Tapak (ILL) def. Caroline Williams (UMD) 6-1, 7-6 (7-3)
Order of finish: 1, 3, 6, 5, 4*
