IOWA CITY, Iowa – The fifth-seeded Illinois women's tennis team opened play at the 2022 Big Ten Tournament on Thursday (April 28) evening, battling host and 12th-seeded Iowa for over three hours until freshman Kasia Treiber sealed the 4-3 win with a three-set victory in the second round of the conference tournament at the Hawkeye Tennis & Recreation Center.
With the win, the Illini (16-8) advance to Friday's quarterfinals against fourth-seeded Wisconsin at 6 p.m. CT.
The Illini added its 16th doubles point of the season as the No. 1 team of sophomore Kate Duong and freshman Megan Heuser and the No. 3 duo of junior Emily Casati and Treiber earned a pair of 6-4 wins to put UI ahead at 1-0.
Junior Ashley Yeah and Duong then struck back-to-back singles victories for the 3-0 advantage as the junior registered a 7-5, 6-1 decision over Barbora Pokorna on court two, while Duong defeated Marisa Schmidt, 6-2, 6-4.
The Hawkeyes (7-17) rallied to tie the score at 3-3 with wins on courts four, six and three, but for the seventh time this season, Treiber delivered the winning point as the freshman finished off a 6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-3 win over Samantha Gillas on court five to clinch the victory and send the Illini to the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals.
Next Up
Illinois continues its Big Ten Tournament run on Friday (April 29), taking on fourth-seeded Wisconsin at 6 p.m. CT at the Hawkeye Tennis & Recreation Center in Iowa City, Iowa.
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