Box Score

LINCOLN, Neb. - The Illinois women's tennis team turned in a quick 4-0 sweep over Wisconsin in Saturday's Big Ten Tournament semifinals to clinch a spot in Sunday's title match against top-seeded Michigan. 

The Illini put together a strong showing on the doubles courts, claiming wins at the No. 2 and No. 3 positions to take the early one-point lead. Jaclyn Switkes and Sasha Belaya took down Wisconsin's pair of Zordani/Castellano, 6-1, before Asuka Kawai and Mia Rabinowitz secured a 6-4 victory over Markham/Rompf.

Singles play was much of the same, as the Illini secured first set victories on four of six courts. Senior Daniela Pedraza Novak was first to finish with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Christina Zordani on court six and No. 44 Asuka Kawai wasn't far behind, claiming a 6-0, 6-3 straight-set win over No. 80 Sara Castellano. The match was clinched on court four, as senior Jaclyn Switkes took down Ava Markham, 7-5, 6-0.

Notes

• Illinois advances to its second Big Ten title match in program history (2001)
• The Illini are now 22-23 in the Big Ten Tournament since the tournament format was changed to single elimination in 1996
• Illinois has won the last eight matches against the Badgers
• Illinois has won 10 of its last 11 matches
• The Orange and Blue are now 14-2 this season when winning at No. 6 singles

Watch the Championship

Sunday's title match will be streamed live via BTN Plus. Complimentary access to BTN2Go is available to viewers connected to the internet network of a Big Ten university. Fans elsewhere can sign up for the pay-per-view webcasts.

Final Results

Illinois 4, Wisconsin 0

Doubles-Order of Finish: 2, 3*

1. Novak/Duong (Illinois) vs. Keberle/Makarova (WIS) 5-4, unf.
2. Switkes/Belaya (Illinois) def. Zordani/Castellano (WIS) 6-1
3. Kawai/Rabinowitz (Illinois) def. Markham/Rompf (WIS) 6-4

Singles-Order of Finish: 6, 1, 4*

1. #44 Asuka Kawai (Illinois) def. #80 Sara Castellano (WIS) 6-0, 6-3
2. #123 Lexi Keberle (WIS) vs. Mia Rabinowitz (Illinois) 7-5, 1-0, unf.
3. Anna Makarova (WIS) vs. Sasha Belaya (Illinois) 6-3, 5-2, unf.
4. Jaclyn Switkes (Illinois) def. Ava Markham (WIS) 7-5, 6-0
5. Emilee Duong (Illinois) vs. MaryAnn Rompf (WIS) 6-4, 3-2, unf.
6. Daniela Pedraza Novak (Illinois) def. Christina Zordani (WIS) 6-1, 6-2

Records: Illinois (16-10) | Wisconsin (18-5)

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