CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois women's tennis team returns to action on Sunday, February 27 as the Illini welcome in Cornell at 12 p.m. CT in Atkins Tennis Center. The Illini will be hosting Diversity and Inclusion Day on Sunday, with the first 100 fans receiving a small popcorn bag from CBPB Popcorn shop.
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 secured Braggin' Rights with an impressive performance in a 4-0 sweep of Missouri in Atkins Tennis Center on February 13.
The Illini were dominant in doubles as sophomore Kate Duong and freshman Megan Heuser cruised to a 6-1 win on court one, before the junior duo of Ashley Yeah and Josie Frazier finished things off with a 6-3 win on court two.
UI won five of six opening sets to take control in singles, before Heuser earned the first solo win with a quick 6-3, 6-2 win over Romary Cardenas on court four. Senior Shivani Ingle and Yeah then struck back-to-back wins less than 30 seconds apart to send the Illini to victory as ingle posted a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Valentina Vazquez on court six and Yeah registered a 6-3, 6-1 decision against Gabriela Martinez at No. 2 singles.
Illini vs. the Field
This will be the first-ever meeting between the Illini and Cornell.
Illini Notes
- Illinois is 6-3 on the season and owns a 5-0 record at home in Atkins Tennis Center in 2022.
- Illinois is ranked No. 40 in the most recent ITA Collegiate Tennis Division I Women's team rankings.
- The Illini have a pair of doubles teams with a 5-2 record with sophomore Kate Duong and freshman Megan Heuser at No. 1 doubles and the junior duo of Josie Frazier and Ashley Yeah at No. 2 doubles.
- Individually, Yeah leads the way with six wins on the season, with Duong and freshmen Kida Ferrari and Megan Heuser each owning five wins on the season, while senior Shivani Ingle is 4-0 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 87-61 (.588) 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 next heads on the road for its final two nonconference matches of the regular season, first traveling to Lawrence, Kan., to take on Kansas at 5 p.m. CT on Friday (March 4), before taking on No. 3 Oklahoma in Norman, Okla., on Sunday (March 6) at 12 p.m. CT.
For more Fighting Illini women's tennis news, stay tuned to FightingIllini.com and follow @IlliniWTennis on social media: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook.
