LAS VEGAS – The Illinois women's tennis team opened the 2022 season with its first match at the Bella the Ball Collegiate Invitational on Sunday (January 16), falling to No. 11 Baylor, 6-1, at the Darling Tennis Center.
The Illini (0-1) dropped the doubles point as the junior duo of Josie Frazier and Ashley Yeah picked up a 6-4 win over Isabella Harvison and Alicia Herrero at No. 2 doubles.
Baylor (1-1) went up 2-0 as Frazier fell in her match to Anita Sahdiieva, 6-3, 6-4, while freshman Kasia Treiber made her debut in a 6-1, 3-6, 6-0 setback to Paula Baranano.
Freshman Kida Ferrari then secured the first Illini singles victory of the 2022 season – and her first collegiate win – with a 7-5, 7-6 (1) victory over Ana Zamburek on court six.
The Illini continued to fight as UI pushed the three remaining matches to third sets as junior Ashley Yeah fell 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 to Isabella Harvison and sophomore Kate Duong dropped a 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-1 decision against Alina Shcherbinina on court No. 1. Freshman Megan Heuser, who also made her Illini dual match debut on the night, battled to the end in a 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (9) setback to Alicia Herrero.
The Illini are back in action against BYU on Monday (January 17) at 2 p.m. CT.
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