Fighting Illini Close Action from Blue Gray Classic

MONTGOMERY, Ala.  – The Fighting Illini women's tennis team came up short in its final two matches from the Blue Gray Tennis Classic. Illinois' effort led the squad to a 1-2 record at the event from Montgomery, Alabama.

Following Saturday's results, Illinois moved to 8-4 on the season and now sits at 3-3 in neutral matches as well.

Finishing the tilt against #36 Alabama to open Saturday's action, Josie Frazier earned a 6-2, 6-3 straight-set win at No. 5 singles to get Illinois on the board. The fifth-year senior improved to 5-0 at No. 5 singles with the win.

Illinois would ultimately fall to the Crimson Tide, 4-1.

In the day's second tilt, the Orange and Blue got on the board first with the doubles point against Wake Forest. The Illini earned doubles wins at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles.

The Demon Deacons would claim the next four matches to finish to win the match, 4-1.

Illinois is back in action on Friday, March 1 at 2 p.m. CT against Washington.

FULL RESULTS: #24 ILLINOIS 1, #36 ALABAMA 4

Doubles:
No. 1 – No. 37 Hiser/Bemcheikh (Alabama) def. Megan Heuser/Alice Xu - 6-3
No. 2 – McKenna Schaefbauer/Violeta Martinez def. Sedlackova/Parkhomenko (Alabama) - 6-3
No. 3 – Pitak/Milicevic (Alabama) def. Kida Ferrari/Josie Frazier – 6-3

Singles:
No. 1 – Bencheikh (Alabama) def. Megan Heuser – 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
No. 2 – Sedlackova (Alabama) def. Violeta Martinez – 6-3, 6-4
No. 3 – Hiser (Alabama) def. Kasia Treiber – 6-2, 0-6, 6-3
No. 4 – McKenna Schaefbauer vs. Pitak (Alabama) – 4-6, 6-4, 4-1, unfinished
No. 5 – Josie Frazier def. Parkhomenko (Alabama) – 6-2, 6-3
No. 6 – Kida Ferrari vs. Milicevic (Alabama) – 6-7 (4), 7-5, unfinished

Order of Finish:
Doubles: 2, 3, 1
Singles: 2, 5, 3, 1

FULL RESULTS: #24 ILLINOIS 1, #59 WAKE FOREST 4

Doubles:
No. 1 – Megan Heuser/Alice Xu def. Killingsworth/Cruz (Wake Forest) – 6-2
No. 2 – Blanch/Wooten (Wake Forest) def. McKenna Schaefbauer/Violeta Martinez – 6-4
No. 3 – Kida Ferrari/Josie Frazier def. Gownder/Pate (Wake Forest) – 6-4

Singles:
No. 1 – #26 Wooten (Wake Forest) def. Megan Heuser – 6-2, 6-4
No. 2 – Killingsworth (Wake Forest) def. Violeta Martinez – 6-2, 6-4
No. 3 – Cruz (Wake Forest) def. Kasia Treiber – 6-4, 6-2
No. 4 – McKenna Schaefbauer vs. Carton (Wake Forest) – 7-5, 2-3, unfinished
No. 5 – Gownder (Wake Forest) def. Josie Frazier – 6-3, 7-5
No. 6 – Kida Ferrari vs. Blanch (Wake Forest) – 3-6, 6-4, 5-0, unfinished

Order of Finish:
Doubles: 1, 2, 3
Singles: 1, 2, 3, 5