WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Illinois women's tennis team defeated Purdue on Sunday, 4-2. With the win, the Fighting Illini have now emerged victorious in eight of their last 10 matches this season, and improve to 11-10 overall and 5-2 in the Big Ten. Purdue falls to 5-13 overall and 0-7 in conference play.
"Give a lot of credit to Purdue," said head coach Evan Clark. "They came out ready to plan in doubles and they did not make anything easy in singles. It was another tough road match in the Big Ten."
Purdue won the first match of the day, with Natalia Davila and Alex Sabe defeating the pair of Alexis Casati and Daniela Pedraza Novak at No. 3 doubles, 6-3. Madie Baillon and Jaclyn Switkes won the No. 2 doubles match over Caitlin Calkins and Marta Ruedas of Purdue, 6-3, but Purdue would clinch the doubles point after the 51st-ranked duo of Rafaella Baquerizo and Andjela Djokovic defeated Louise Kwong and Ines Vias at the No. 1 position, 6-3.
In singles play Baillon and Switkes picked up right where they left off and won each of their matches in two sets. Switkes earned the victory at the No. 4 spot over Purdue's Deborah Suarez, 6-1, 6-3, and Baillon defeated Baquerizo in the No. 3 singles match, 7-5, 6-4. Casati won the No. 2 singles match, earning the victory over Sabe, 6-4, 6-3, to give Illinois a 3-1 lead.
Caitlin Calkins took the No. 6 singles match over Grace Tapak, 1-6, 6-4, 7-5, to make the score 3-2. Pedraza Novak clinched the match for the Illini with a 6-2, 1-6, 6-4 win at the No. 5 spot over Davila.
"Our group played well enough in singles to get to four," Clark sad. "I was pleased with how our team handled the situation, weathered the storm and was able to pull out the match. We are happy to go 2-0 on the road this weekend."
UP NEXT
Illinois will return home to Atkins Tennis Center this weekend, and will host Ohio State on Friday, April 14 at 5 p.m. CT, and Penn State on Sunday, April 16 at 11 a.m.
Illinois 4, Purdue 2
DOUBLES
1. #51 Rafaella Baquerizo/Andjela Djokovic (PUR) def. Louise Kwong/Ines Vias (ILL) 6-3
2. Madie Baillon/Jaclyn Switkes (ILL) def. Caitlin Calkins/Marta Ruedas (PUR) 6-3
3. Natalia Davila/Alex Sabe (PUR) def. Alexis Casati/Daniela Pedraza Novak (ILL) 6-3
Order of finish: 3, 2, 1*
SINGLES
1. Andjela Djokovic (PUR) vs. Louise Kwong (ILL) 7-6, 5-7, 0-2, unfinished
2. Alexis Casati (ILL) def. Alex Sabe (PUR) 6-4, 6-3
3. Madie Baillon (ILL) def. Rafaella Baquerizo (PUR) 7-5, 6-4
4. Jaclyn Switkes (ILL) def. Deborah Suarez (PUR) 6-1, 6-3
5. Daniela Pedraza Novak (ILL) def. Natalia Davila (PUR) 6-2, 1-6, 6-4
6. Caitlin Calkins (PUR) def. Grace Tapak (ILL) 1-6, 6-4, 7-5
Order of finish: 4, 3, 2, 6, 5*
