Box Score

URBANA, Ill. - Competing at Atkins Tennis Center for the first time in over a month, the Fighting Illini women's tennis team cruised to a 6-1 win over Rutgers on Friday afternoon to improve to 5-0 at home on the year. Illinois has won 10-straight matches at Atkins, dating back to March 22, 2018 against Northwestern. 

The Illini got off to a quick start in doubles play, taking matches on courts two and three to claim the early one-point advantage. The pair of Kawai/Rabinowitz were first to finish with a 6-3 victory over Kaplan/Da Silva to claim their team-best 11th doubles win of the season. Duong/Novak secured the point for Illinois, as the pair took down Jacobs/Cochrane 6-3. 

It was more of the same for Illinois in singles play, as the Illini picked up first set wins on all six courts. Sophomore Emilee Duong extended the team's lead with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Jaci Cochrane on court five, before No. 54 Asuka Kawai claimed a 6-0, 6-3 victory over Maya Jacobs on court one. The match was clinched on court six, as senior Daniela Pedraza Novak took down Isabelle Da Silva, 6-0, 7-5, to secure the Illinois victory.

The teams played out the remaining matches and the Illini extended their lead with wins on courts two and three. Rutger's lone point came on four, as Sasha Belaya came up short to Rutgers' Sydney Kaplan, 2-6, 6-1, 6-2.

Up next, the Illini travel east to take on Maryland on Sunday, March 31. Match play is set to begin at 10:20 a.m. CT.  

Final Results 

Illinois 6, Rutgers 1

Doubles-Order of Finish: 3, 2*

1. Swiktes/Belaya (Illinois) def. Fisher/Muzik (Rutgers) 4-4, unf.
2. Duong/Novak (Illinois) def. Jacobs/Cochrane (Rutgers) 6-3
3. Kawai/Rabinowitz (Illinois) def. Kaplan/Da Silva (Rutgers) 6-0

Singles-Order of Finish: 5, 1, 6*, 2, 3, 4

1. #54 Asuka Kawai (Illinois) def. Maya Jacobs (Rutgers) 6-0, 6-3
2. Mia Rabinowitz (Illinois) def. Kat Muzik (Rutgers) 6-3, 6-3
3. Jaclyn Switkes (Illinois) def. Tess Fisher (Rutgers) 6-4, 6-4
4. Sydney Kaplan (Rutgers) def. Sasha Belaya (Illinois) 2-6, 6-1, 6-2
5. Emilee Duong (Illinois) def. Jaci Cochrane (Rutgers) 6-1, 6-3
6. Daniela Pedraza Novak (Illinois) def. Isabelle Da Silva (Rutgers) 6-0, 7-5

Records: Illinois (7-9, 2-2 B1G) | Rutgers (8-7, 0-5 B1G)

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