Match Notes | Live Stats | Live Video
URBANA, Ill. – After two weeks on the road, the Illinois women's tennis team returns to Atkins Tennis Center for two matches this weekend. The Illini welcome Kansas on Friday, February 28 for a 3 p.m. CT match up, and Oklahoma on Sunday, March 1 for an 11 a.m. CT match.
PROMOTIONS
Friday, February 28 – Staff Happy Hour
As the Illini prepare to take on the Jayhawks, all University and DIA staff are invited to take a break from their work day and enjoy free Domino's pizza and some "mocktails".
Sunday, March 1 – Pack Atkins
Join the Fighting Illini on Sunday when they take on the Sooners, and pack Atkins! The Orange and Blue look to fill every seat at Atkins and will be giving away free Join the Fight t-shirts and free food provided by Bob Evans.
LAST TIME OUT
The Illini enter the weekend with a 4-7record after last weekend's road matches against Oregon and then ranked No. 20 Washington. The Illini defeated the Ducks, 4-2 last Friday, before falling, 1-4, to the Huskies last Sunday.
At Oregon, the Orange and Blue lost the doubles point, as the Ducks had wins at courts No. 2 and No. 3. Illinois rallied back in singles competition when freshman Emily Casati picked up the first singles point of the match. Junior Sasha Belaya grabbed the next point after powering past her opponent to make the match 2-1. Oregon's Julia Eshet tied the match up at two apiece, before freshmen Ashley Yeah and Josie Frazier notched wins at No. 5 and No. 3, respectively.
On Sunday, Illinois doubles pair of junior Emilee Duong and Frazier, clinched the doubles point for the Illini, defeating then 54th-ranked Huskies' Vanessa Wong and Natsuho Arakawa, 7-6 (9). Washington came back to claim a 4-1 victory over the Fighting Illini with four consecutive wins at No. 1, No. 6, No. 5 and No. 3 singles.
SCOUTING KANSAS
The Jayhawks are 4-4 heading into Friday's match up with Illinois. Kansas opened its season with a 7-0 win over Drake and a 6-1 win over Wichita State on Jan. 18 and Jan. 19, respectively. The Jayhawks earned victories over a 23rd-ranked Washington team (5-2) and Tulsa (6-1). Kansas has suffered three losses over ranked opponents, No. 20 Tennessee (4-2) and No. 21 California (4-3) and No. 8 NC State (6-1), while also dropping its match to Wake Forest (7-0).
Illinois is led 2-6 by Kansas in the all-time series. The two teams met last year on January 25, where the No. 16 ranked Jayhawks downed the Illini, 4-1.
SCOUTING OKLAHOMA
The Sooners enter Sunday afternoon's match with an 3-3 overall record. Oklahoma opened its spring slate splitting its ITA Kickoff Weekend matches. The Sooners fell to the 21st-ranked Florida, 4-3, before earning their first win of the season with a 4-2 victory over Rice. Oklahoma has since gone on to pick up 7-0 wins over Oral Roberts and UMKC. The Sooners have also fallen to No. 11 ranked Pepperdine (5-2) and No. 29 ranked Texas A&M (6-1).
Oklahoma holds the 1-6 advantage over the Orange and Blue in the all-time series record. The two programs last met on February 26, 2017. The Sooners defeated Illinois, 5-2.
RABINOWITZ COLLECTS WOMEN'S TENNIS BIG TEN WEEKLY HONOR
Rabinowitz was named Women's Tennis Big Ten Athlete of the Week on Tuesday, Feb. 18. The Tenafly, N.J., native, tabbed the honor for her combined 2-1 doubles and singles performance last weekend. The junior also earned her second victory this season over a ranked opponent. The honor marks a second for Rabinowitz's career.
Follow the Illini
Stay tuned to FIGHTINGILLINI.com for all the latest information on Fighting Illini Women's Tennis. Follow the Orange and Blue on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for even more coverage.
