University of Illinois
Michigan State
Illini Play Host to Pair of Michigan Teams
April 4, 2019 | Women's Tennis
Match 18 and 19: Illinois vs. Michigan State & No. 18 Michigan
| Date | Saturday - 11 a.m. CT | Sunday - 11 a.m CT |
| Location | Atkins Tennis Center |
| Live Links | Live Stats & Video |
| 2019 Information | Season Stats | Match Notes | Record Book |
URBANA, Ill. - Coming off a successful weekend, which featured wins over Rutgers (6-1) and Maryland (4-0) a week ago, the Illini return home to host both Michigan State and No. 18 Michigan at Atkins Tennis Center. Illinois will take on the Spartans on Saturday before matching up with the Wolverines on Sunday.
Match Notes
- Illinois holds a 34-12 advantage in the all-time series against MSU and have won the last three matches against the Spartans.
- The Illini look for their first win over Michigan since April 17, 2004.
- Illinois is 5-0 at home on the season and has won 10 straight matches dating back to March of last season.
Illinois in the ITA Rankings
The Fighting Illini women's tennis team appears at No. 33 in the most recent ITA Tennis rankings. After beginning the season ranked No. 21 in the preseason rankings, and eventually moving up to No. 18, the Illini had three tough losses against top-20 teams to knock them out of the top 25. Prior to the Blue Gray Classic, Illinois sat at No. 22. The Illini have been in the top 40 dating back to Feb. 14, 2018.
Sophomore Asuka Kawai sits at a career-best No. 47 singles ranking.
Strength of Schedule
The Illini have competed against nine teams currently ranked in the top 30 in the country during the first few months of the season. Duke checks in at No. 4 in the most recent ITA rankings, followed by Texas at No. 7, Kansas at No. 14, Texas A&M at No. 17, Virginia at No. 20, Wake Forest at No. 22, UCF at No. 24, Northwestern at No. 25 and Texas Tech at No. 29.
Illinois' strength of schedule ranks 13th in the nation, according to slam.tennis.
Home Sweet Home
The Fighting Illini turned in a perfect 4-0 homestand in early February, which featured wins over Notre Dame (4-3), Oregon (4-3), Texas A&M (4-3) and Baylor (6-1). Illinois was led by sophomore Mia Rabinowitz, who went undefeated in both singles and doubles play. Fellow-sophomore Sasha Belaya also went 3-1 in singles play, highlighted by a 6-0, 6-0 sweep over Oregon's Taryn Fujimori.
With its win over Rutgers a week ago, the Illini sit at 5-0 at home on the season and have won 10 straight at Atkins Tennis Center since losing to Northwestern on March 22, 2018.
Kawai Earns Back-to-Back B1G Weekly Honors
Asuka Kawai has had a stellar start to the season, as the sophomore became the first Illini women's tennis athlete ever to earn the honor in back-to-back weeks in late February-early March.
Playing at No. 1 singles throughout the annual Blue Gray Tennis Classic, Kawai picked up wins over two ITA-ranked opponents, including No. 40 Emma Davis from Wake Forest (6-3, 3-6, 6-2) and No. 36 Felicity Maltby from Texas Tech (6-4, 3-6, 6-1). Kawai also paired up with fellow-sophomore Mia Rabinowitz to earn doubles victories over both Alabama's Selim/Gintrand (6-2) and Texas Tech's Sella/Peet (6-3).
Kawai continued her stellar play at No. 13 Northwestern, as the Palatine, Ill., native defeated No. 30 Clarissa Hand, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, to mark her third-straight singles victory over a top-40 ITA ranked opponent. Paired with Rabinowitz, Kawai also added a doubles victory, as the two took down NU's Pozo/Doshi, 6-2.
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