University of Illinois
ITA Midwest Regional
Illinois Women's Tennis Ends Competition at ITA Midwest Regionals
October 22, 2019 | Women's Tennis
EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Illinois women's tennis team wrapped up competition at the 2019 ITA Midwest Regionals in East Lansing, Mich., on Tuesday.
The tournament began Thursday, Oct. 17, with freshman Emily Casati and sophomore Shivani Ingle each earning a win in both the first and second rounds of the qualifying singles competition. On Friday, Oct. 18, No. 9-16 seeded Casati ended her tournament run with a round of 16 loss to No. 5 seeded Julia Lilien of Notre Dame, 7-5, 6-3. Ingle, the third-seed in the tournament, defeated Illinois State's Laura Fitzgerald, 6-4, 6-3, to qualify for the main draw singles matches.
In the main draw doubles competition, freshman Ashley Yeah and Ingle paired up to down duo Nirva Patel and Victoria Kurz of Oakland, 8-1 in the first round, but fell short, 8-4, in the second round to Northwestern's No. 9-16 seeded duo of Carolina Pozo and Briana Crowley. Junior Emilee Duong and freshman Josie Frazier earned a first-round victory, as well, before coming up short to Northwestern's No. 2 seeded pair Julia Byrne and Hannah McColgan, 8-7 (5).
Fourth-seed duo juniors Asuka Kawai and Mia Rabinowitz and No. 9-16 seeded duo junior Sasha Belaya and Casati received first-round byes before beginning their run in the main draw doubles. Both Illini pairs advanced to the round of 16 after defeating their respected opponents in the second round. Each duo ended their run in the round of 16 of the doubles competition. Kawai and Rabinowitz were defeated by the No. 9-16 seeded duo Andrea Cerdan and Alyvia Jones of Michigan, while Belaya and Casati were fell to Ohio State's No. 3 seeded duo of Shiori Fukuda and Luna Dormet, 8-4.
As singles play in the main draw competition began, the Orange and Blue saw strong performance in the first round after three of four Fighting Illini advanced to the second round. Duong and Yeah tallied 6-3, 6-3 wins over Michigan State opponents, while Belaya defeated Marquette's Fleur Eggink 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. Ingle came up short to Nicole Stephens of Michigan State 7-5, 6-2.
Duong and Yeah ended their run in the ITA Midwest Regionals after being downed by Julia Byrne of Northwestern (6-2, 7-5), and Andrea Cerdan of Michigan (6-4, 6-3), respectively. Belaya earned a victory over Notre Dame's No. 3 seeded Zoe Spence 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 in the second round of action. After receiving first-round byes, No. 1 seeded Kawai defeated Ava Markham of Wisconsin 7-6 (3), 6-4, and No 9-16 seeded Rabinowtiz downed Notre Dame's Julia Lilien 6-0, 6-0.
Belaya's tournament run came to an end in the round of 16 as No. 9-16 seeded Andrea Cerdan earned the 6-1, 7-6 (2) victory. Kawai and Rabinowitz both advanced to the quarterfinals of the main draw singles competition after defeating No. 9-16 seeded Cameron Corse of Notre Dame (6-0, 6-1), and Michigan State's Mary Lewis (6-3, 3-6, 6-3), respectively.
Kawai defeated Julie Byrne of Northwestern, the seventh seed of the tournament, 6-1, 6-4 to advance in the bracket before falling short to Michigan's No. 4 seeded Giulia Pairone 7-5, 6-2 in the semifinals round. Rabinowitz came up short in the quarterfinals to No. 6 seeded Shiori Fukuda of Ohio State 7-5, 6-2.
The Fighting Illini will travel to Austin, Texas to compete in the Texas Invite, hosted by the University of Texas, on Friday, Nov. 1 through Sunday, Nov. 3.
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