Illini Sweep Past Spartans

Women's Tennis April 6, 2019

Illini Sweep Past Spartans

URBANA, Ill. - Playing outside at home for the first time since April, 2017, the Illinois women's tennis team wasted no time getting warm, as the Illini swept past Michigan State, 6-0. With the victory, the Orange and Blue improve to 9-9 overall on the season and 4-2 in Big Ten play.

Match Notes

Illinois is a perfect 6-0 at home on the season.
The Illini have won 11-straight matches at Atkins Tennis Center, dating back to March 10, 2018.
The win marked the fourth straight over MSU for the Illini, who hold a 35-12 advantage in the all-time series.

Illinois started strong with wins at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles to take the early one-point advantage. Belaya/Switkes finished first with a 6-2 win over Pietrowicz/Metcalf before Kawai/Rabinowitz secured the point with a 6-4 victory over Lemond/Nguyen. The Illini have now won 13 doubles points on the year.

Singles play was much of the same, as Illinois picked up first set victories on all six courts. Sophomore Emilee Duong took down Nicole Stephens, 6-1, 1-6, 7-5, on court five and senior Daniela Pedraza Novak claimed a 6-0, 6-7(3), 6-1 win over Emily Metcalf on court six. The match was clinched on court two, as sophomore Mia Rabinowitz earned a 6-2, 7-6(6) straight-set victory over Lauren Lemonds.

The teams played out the remaining matches and Jaclyn Switkes and Asuka Kawai secured wins on courts three and one, respectively. Sasha Belaya's match on court four was stopped in the third set.

Up next, the Illini play host to another Michigan school, as Illinois welcomes the 18th-ranked Michigan Wolverines on Sunday at 11 a.m. CT.

Final Results

Illinois 6, Michigan State 0

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

1. Switkes/Belaya (Illinois) def. Pietrowicz/Metcalf (MSU) 6-2
2. Memije/Stephens (MSU) def. Duong/Novak (Illinois) 6-4
3. Kawai/Rabinowitz (Illinois) def. Lemonds/Nguyen (MSU) 6-4

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

1. #54 Asuka Kawai (Illinois) def. Samantha Memije (MSU) 6-4, 2-6, 6-4
2. Mia Rabinowitz (Illinois) def. Lauren Lemonds (MSU) 6-2, 7-6(6)
3. Jaclyn Switkes (Illinois) def. Davina Nguyen (MSU) 7-5, 4-6, 6-0
4. Sasha Belaya (Illinois) vs. Maja Pietrowicz (MSU) 6-4, 4-6(6), 2-5, unf.
5. Emilee Duong (Illinois) def. Nicole Stephens (MSU) 6-1, 1-6, 7-5
6. Daniela Pedraza Novak (Illinois) def. Emily Metcalf (MSU) 6-0, 6-7(3), 6-1

Records: Illinois (9-9, 4-2 B1G) | Michigan State (12-10, 3-5 B1G)