University of Illinois
Indiana
Illini Come Up Short in 4-3 Thriller at Indiana
March 8, 2019 | Women's Tennis
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Despite a strong start, the Fighting Illini women's tennis team came up short to Indiana, 4-3, Friday at the IU Tennis Center. Illinois moves to 5-7 overall on the season and 0-2 in Big Ten play.
The Orange and Blue earned the doubles point for the seventh time this season, as the Illini picked up wins on courts one and three. The pair of Belaya/Switkes took down No. 45 Appel/Bozovic, 7-6(3) before Kawai/Rabinowitz clinched the early advantage for Illinois, defeating McKamey/Henry 7-6(7).
The Illini extended their lead in singles play, as senior Daniela Pedraza Novak earned a 6-3, 6-3 win over IU's Sommer Henry on court six. The Hoosiers responded strong with wins on courts one, five and three to put Indiana on the brink. Sophomore Sasha Belaya came up huge with a 6-2, 6-7(4), 7-5 victory over Jelly Bozovic on court four to tie things up, but IU's Natalie Whalen clinched the Indiana victory with a 7-6(4), 4-6, 7-5 victory over Jaclyn Switkes.
Up next, the Illini remain in the state of Indiana for an 11 a.m. CT contest against Purdue in West Lafayette on Saturday.
Final Results
Indiana 4, Illinois 3
Doubles-Order of Finish: 2, 1, 3*
1. Belaya/Switkes (Illinois) def. #45 Appel/Bozovic (IU) 7-6(3)
2. Whalen/Bernard (IU) def. Duong/Novak (Illinois) 6-3
3. Kawai/Rabinowitz (Illinois) def. McKamey/Henry (IU) 7-6(7)
Singles-Order of Finish: 6, 1, 5, 3, 4, 2*
1. Madison Appel (IU) def. #57 Asuka Kawai (Illinois) 6-4, 6-4
2. Natalie Whalen (IU) def. Jaclyn Swikes (Illinois) 7-6(4), 4-6, 7-5
3. Caitlin Bernard (IU) def. Mia Rabinowitz (Illinois) 6-3, 1-6, 6-3
4. Sasha Belaya (Illinois) def. Jelly Bozovic (IU) 6-2, 6-7(4), 7-5
5. Michelle McKamey (IU) def. Emilee Duong (Illinois) 1-6, 6-2, 6-2
6. Daniela Pedraza Novak (Illinois) def. Sommer Henry (IU) 6-3, 6-3
Records: Illinois (5-7) | Indiana (10-5)
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