Match 21 and 22: Illinois vs. Minnesota, Wisconsin    

The No. 14 Fighting Illini women's tennis team returns to the Atkins Tennis Center for the final regular season home matches this weekend. The Illini will host the Minnesota Gophers on Friday at 4 pm. On Sunday, Illinois will celebrate Senior Day and honor seniors, Jade Hilton and Grace Tapak prior to a 12 pm match against Wisconsin.

Match Points 

• Illinois has won five-straight dual matches against the Gophers and the Badgers, dating back to the 2011 season.   
• The Illini did not compete against Minnesota and Wisconsin last season.   
• Freshman Mia Rabinowitz has won seven-straight singles matches. Rabinowitz has not lost since March 2 against Northwestern. 
• Freshman Sasha Belaya is currently on a six-match singles winning streak.

A Season of Milestones 

The 2018 Fighting Illini women's tennis team is only at the midpoint of the dual match season, but the Illini have already accomplished a long list of accolades throughout 2018: 

• Best start in program history at 17-3. 
• Highest ranking in Illinois women's tennis history (No. 5) 
• Three wins against Top-25 opponents in a single season for the first time in program history 
• Hosted first women's Top-15 matchup at Atkins Tennis Center 
• Mia Rabinowitz became the first Illini freshman to win a B1G weekly honor since 2004 
• With Illinois' February 2 win over then No. 11-Texas, Illinois earned its first win over a Top-20 opponent since 2012 
• Most wins win a single season under head coach Evan Clark 

Belaya, Pedraza-Novak Rolling 

Freshman Sasha Belaya and junior Daniela Pedraza-Novak remain ranked in this week's Oracle/ITA doubles rankings at a career-best No. 38. The duo have won eight of their last nine doubles matches and have compiled a team-leading 15-3 record in dual match doubles play, including a 7-1 record at the No. 1 position. Belaya and Pedraza-Novak won their first match against an ITA-ranked opponent on February 24 against Northwestern's Chatt and Or, who were ranked No. 13 in the nation. In singles play, Belaya and Pedraza-Novak are currently five and six match winning streaks, respectively. 

Illinois Reaches Program's Highest Oracle/ITA Ranking 

Just two weeks after being ranked in the Oracle/ITA Top-25 for the first time since 2013, the No. 5-ranked Orange and Blue reached the highest team ranking in program history on February 20. Illinois was coming off a 2-0 weekend at the Atkins Tennis Center, where Illinois topped Iowa and a ranked Washington team. After two weeks ranked in the Top-5, Illinois won another Top-10 matchup against No. 10 Wake Forest at the Blue Gray National Tennis Classic on February 24. 

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