Illini Upset No. 18 Ohio State on Senior Day

Women's Tennis April 21, 2019

Illini Upset No. 18 Ohio State on Senior Day

URBANA, Ill. - The Illinois women's tennis team topped No. 18 Ohio State, 4-2 on Sunday at Atkins Tennis Center. The match victory over the Buckeyes is the first since March 30, 2014 for the Illini, who will now get set for the Big Ten Tournament, set April 25-28, in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Playing outside at home for just the second time this season, Illini got off to a hot start by taking two matches in doubles play to earn the early one-point advantage. Kawai/Rabinowitz swept past Allen/Ballinger, 6-0, before Novak/Duong secured a 6-4 victory on court one over Boulais/Wolf.

Illinois started slow in singles play, as the Buckeyes took the first set on four of six courts. OSU's Danielle Wolf won 6-2, 6-3 over Emilee Duong to tie things up and No. 91 Kolie Allen put Ohio State ahead, defeating Sasha Belaya, 6-3, 6-4. The Illini responded in a flurry, rattling off wins at six and two to put themselves on the brink of clinching. Daniela Pedraza Novak took down Mary Beth Hurley on court six, 7-5, 6-3, before Mia Rabinowitz went 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 over No. 62 Isabelle Boulais.

The match was clinched on court one, as sophomore Asuka Kawai pulled out an impressive 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 win over No. 83 Shiori Fukuda.

Final Results

Illinois 4, #18 Ohio State 2

Doubles-Order of Finish: 3, 2, 1*

1. Novak/Duong (Illinois) def. Boulais/Wolf (OSU) 6-4
2. Fukuda/Dormet (OSU) def. Switkes/Belaya (Illinois) 6-3
3. Kawai/Rabinowitz (Illinois) def. Allen/Ballinger (OSU) 6-0

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

1. #48 Asuka Kawai (Illinois) vs. #83 Shiori Fukuda (OSU) 3-6, 6-2, 6-3
2. Mia Rabinowitz (Illinois) def. #63 Isabelle Boulais (OSU) 2-6, 6-2, 6-2
3. #91 Kolie Allen (OSU) def. Sasha Belaya (Illinois) 6-3, 6-4
4. Jaclyn Switkes (Illinois) vs. Luna Dormet (OSU) 6-2, 6-6, unf.
5. Danielle Wolf (OSU) def. Emilee Duong (Illinois) 6-2, 6-3
6. Daniela Pedraza Novak (Illinois) def. Mary Beth Hurley (OSU) 7-5, 6-3

Records: Illinois (14-10, 8-3 B1G) | Ohio State (19-5, 8-3 B1G)