CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois women's tennis team welcomes in Missouri for a Braggin' Rights match on Sunday, February 13 at 12 p.m. CT at Atkins Tennis Center.
Atkins Tennis Center COVID-19 Protocols
With the recent surge in COVID-19 cases on the University of Illinois campus and throughout the Central Illinois region, the University will institute a proof of COVID-19 vaccination or negative-test protocol for all university sponsored events open to the public with more than 200 people in attendance beginning January 1, 2022. All guests ages 12 and older entering Atkins Tennis Center will be required to show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination OR a negative COVID-19 PCR or rapid test taken within 72 hours of the event to enter the facility.
The state of Illinois and University of Illinois remains under a mask mandate. Face coverings must be worn by all fans over the age of 5 years.
Last Time Out
Illinois stayed undefeated at home with a 7-0 sweep of Illinois State on Sunday (February 6) in Atkins Tennis Center.
After falling at No. 2 doubles, the Illini earned a 6-2 win from junior Emily Casati and freshman Kida Ferrari on court three, before sophomore Kate Duong and freshman Megan Heuser grabbed a come-from-behind 7-5 victory on court one to take the doubles point.
Junior Josie Frazier struck first in singles with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Maria Potsi on court three, with Ferrari joining her in the win column close behind with a 6-4, 6-0 victory against Elena Jankulovska on court five. Duong then sealed the win with a 6-4, 6-3 decision over Tijana Zlatanovic. The Illini rounded out the sweep with straight-sets wins from senior Shivani Ingle (6-3, 6-2) on court six, Heuser (6-3, 6-4) at No. 4 singles and junior Ashley Yeah (6-4, 7-5) on court two.
Illini vs. the Field
Illinois and Missouri have met on court just twice in program history, with the last meeting coming 40 years ago as the Illini earned a 7-2 win during the 1981-82 season. The Illini have won both meetings with the Tigers after posting a 5-4 victory in the two teams' first meeting during the 1977-78 season.
Illini Notes
- Illinois owns a 4-0 record at home in Atkins Tennis Center in 2022.
- The Illini have three doubles teams with 4-2 records with sophomore Kate Duong and freshman Megan Heuser at No. 1 doubles, the junior duo of Josie Frazier and Ashley Yeah at No. 2 doubles and junior Emily Casati and freshman Kasia Treiber at No. 3 doubles. Casati most recently teamed with freshman Kida Ferrari to earn the duo's first doubles win.
- Individually, Duong, freshman Kida Ferrari and Yeah each own five wins on the season, with senior Shivani Ingle posting a 3-0 record at No. 6 singles.
- All eight players have registered at least one singles win in 2022.
- Head coach Evan Clark is in his sixth year as the head of Illinois women's tennis and owns an overall record of 86-61 (.585) and is 42-22 (.673) in the Big Ten Conference.
- The Illini are coming off a 9-9 Big Ten Conference-only season in 2021.
- The Illini return five players from last season, including senior Ingle, juniors Casati, Frazier and Yeah and sophomore Duong.
- Illinois welcomes in three freshmen in 2022 with the addition of Heuser, Ferrari and Treiber.
Next Up
Illinois breaks for two weeks before wrapping up their three-match homestand with a 12 p.m. CT contest against Cornell on Sunday, February 27 at Atkins Tennis Center.
For more Fighting Illini women's tennis news, stay tuned to FightingIllini.com and follow @IlliniWTennis on social media: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook.
