ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Kate Duong and Megan Heuser have won their way into the ITA Midwest Regional doubles finals with four weekend wins from Ann Arbor, Mich. The Illini tandem is the first team to earn a spot in the regional championship since Melissa Kopinski and Rachael White won the 2012 event.
Duong and Heuser were also the first Illini duo to reach the doubles semifinals of a regional since 2016 when Louise Kwong and Ines Vias did so.
In their run to the finals, Duong and Heuser opened the event with a round of 64 bye before downing a duo from Toledo, 6-1, in the round of 32 on Friday. Saturday saw the Illini team pick up an 8-3 win over a Marquette duo in the round of 16. Duong and Heuser earned a quarterfinal win over Michigan's tandem (8-2) before downing a Northwestern duo in the semifinals (8-4).
By earning a spot in the ITA Midwest regional doubles finals, Duong and Heuser have earned themselves a bid to the ITA National Fall Championships from Nov. 2-6 in San Diego, Calif. Both tandems from Monday's championship earn a berth to the November event regardless of result.
Monday's ITA Midwest Regional doubles championship is slated for 9 a.m. CT and can be followed HERE.
DUONG & HEUSER'S RESULTS
10/21 - Kate Duong/Megan Heuser def. BYE - (Round of 64)
10/21 - Kate Duong/Megan Heuser def. Alcala/Teska (Toledo) - 8-1 (Round of 32)
10/22 - Kate Duong/Megan Heuser def. Kojcic/Desmarais (Marquette) - 8-3 (Round of 16)
10/23 - Kate Duong/Megan Heuser def. Cerdan/Kelly (Michigan) - 8-2 (Quarterfinals)
10/23 - Kate Duong/Megan Heuser def. Hand/Leong (Northwestern) - 8-4 (Semifinals)
10/24 - Kate Duong/Megan Heuser def. Fliegner/Jones (Michigan) - 8-6 (Finals)
ILLINI DUOS TO COMPETE IN REGIONAL FINALS
2022 – Kate Duong & Megan Heuser – at Michigan – Champions
2012 – Melissa Kopinski & Rachael White – at Illinois – Champions
2010 – Allison Falkin & Rachael White – at Michigan – Runners Up
2004 – Macall Harkins & Brianna Knue – at Minnesota – Runners Up
2003 – Jennifer McGaffigan & Cynthya Goulet – at Western Michigan – Runners Up
2002 – Jennifer McGaffigan & Michelle Webb – at Michigan State – Champions*
* First Illini doubles team to ever win a regional championship
