Match 19 and 20: Illinois at Michigan, Michigan State    

The No. 11 Fighting Illini women's tennis team travels to the state of Michigan this weekend for two matches against Big Ten opponents. On Saturday, the Illini arrive in Ann Arbor, Michigan, for a Top-25 match against the Wolverines. Illinois concludes the weekend in East Lansing, Michigan, on Sunday. First serves for both matches are set for 11 am CT.   

Match Points 

• Illinois has not defeated Michigan since April 17, 2004.   
• The Illini have won the last two meetings against the Michigan State Spartans.  

Six Matches and Counting... 

Illinois is currently on a six-match winning streak that began against Indiana on March 10. During that span Illinois is: 

• 25-4 in singles play 
• 12-1 in doubles play
• Earned six doubles points  

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 16-2. 
• 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 
• Off to the program's best start since 1982
• 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 

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 seven-straight doubles matches and have compiled a team-leading 14-2 record in dual match doubles play, including a 6-0 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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