ST. LOUIS – Fighting Illini women's tennis secured a 4-0 sweep in the 2023 edition of Braggin' Rights on Friday night from St. Louis. Illinois picked up the doubles point before earning straight-set wins on singles courts 3, 4 and 5.
"I'm so happy for our kids with a great bounce back win today," shared head coach Evan Clark. "They've been doing so many good things and just coming up a bit short, so it was great for them to get a solid team win against a very good Missouri team."
Illinois improves to 3-3 on the young season and is now 4-0 all-time against Missouri. The victory also marked the 100th of Clark's time at Illinois. He is the fourth-straight Illini head coach to secure 100 wins with the program and now owns a record of 100-70 during his eight seasons at UI.
"I'm so grateful and honored to be at Illinois," continued Clark. "Wins aside, it's a really special place and I'm just extremely fortunate to be here. I've had so many amazing student athletes, assistant coaches and support staff that are responsible for the wins so thanks to them for all their hard work."
The match took place at Missouri's temporary indoor home of Vetta Sunset in St. Louis, Mo. With just five courts available, No. 6 singles wouldn't start until a court was available.
Illinois claimed the match's doubles point thanks to quick work at No. 2 by Emily Casati and Josie Frazier and a strong finish at No. 3 by Ashley Yeah and Violeta Martinez. Casati and Frazier earned a 6-1 win, their third victory together this season. After being down 2-3, Yeah and Martinez fired back with four-straight games won to clinch the doubles point for the Illini.
The Illini claimed all five first sets that finished (No. 1-5). Courts 1 and 2 would see Missouri claim set two to even the battles but neither would get to a third set.
Megan Heuser was the first off the singles courts after moving up in the lineup to No. 3. She secured a 6-2, 6-4 victory to put Illinois up 2-0 in the match. Heuser was down 0-2 in the first set before winning six-straight games.
Kasia Treiber put the Illini up 3-0 in the match after a 6-4, 6-4 win at No. 5. Moments later, Josie Frazier clinched the win for the Orange and Blue with a 6-2, 6-4 win at No. 4.
The Illini close the weekend at home on Sunday when Illinois State comes to town for a 12 p.m. CT tilt at Atkins Tennis Center.
FULL RESULTS
Doubles
No. 1 – Kate Duong/Megan Heuser vs. Inah Canete/Martinez (MIZ) - 4-3, unfinished
No. 2 – Emily Casati/Josie Frazier def. Artimedi/Masic (MIZ) – 6-1
No. 3 – Violeta Martinez/Ashley Yeah def. Mae Canete/Schwarte (MIZ) – 6-3
Singles
No. 1 – Kate Duong vs. Mae Canete (MIZ) – 7-6 (5), 5-7, unfinished
No. 2 – No. 72 Ashley Yeah vs. No. 87 Laura Masic (MIZ) – 6-4, 5-7, unfinished
No. 3 – Megan Heuser def. Emelie Schwarte (MIZ) – 6-2, 6-4
No. 4 – Josie Frazier def. Gabriela Martinez (MIZ) – 6-2, 6-4
No. 5 – Kasia Treiber def. Inah Canete (MIZ) – 6-4, 6-4
No. 6 – Violeta Martinez vs. Andrea Artimedi (MIZ) – 3-2, unfinished
Order of Finish
Doubles – 2, 3
Singles – 3, 5, 4
