URBANA, Ill. – The Fighting Illini women's tennis team closed out its home schedule with a 4-1 Senior Day win over Purdue on Sunday. Illinois finished with an 11-1 record in home matches on the 2024 campaign.
Illinois improved to 15-7 overall with the victory including a 7-2 mark in Big Ten matches. Purdue is now 11-9 overall and 4-6 in Big Ten play.
Purdue claimed the doubles point after nearly 90 minutes of play. The reconnected Illinois duo of Kate Duong and Megan Heuser earned a 6-2 win at No. 1 doubles but the Orange and Blue couldn't secure another doubles court. Heuser and Duong moved to 5-5 on the season with the decision and 1-0 in doubles play.
Kasia Treiber put the Illini on the board with a 6-1, 6-1 win at No. 5 singles. Treiber climbed to 14-13 overall and 6-3 in Big Ten play with the victory.
Kida Ferrari gave the Illini a 2-1 lead with a 6-3, 6-2 win at No. 5 singles. The junior improved to 12-6 overall, 11-3 in dual play, and 5-1 in Big Ten outings with the victory.
McKenna Schaefbauer followed with another straight-set victory. The sophomore earned a 6-2, 7-6 (0) win at No. 2 doubles. She trailed the majority of set two including 4-5 before winning back-to-back games for a 6-5 lead. Schaefbauer is up to a team-best 15-7 overall record, which includes a 12-4 dual record, and 4-2 mark in Big Ten play.
Fifth-year senior Josie Frazier would clinch her Senior Day victory with a 7-5, 6-2 win at No. 4 singles. Frazier's win was her fourth clinch of the season as she climbed to 12-9 overall, 9-5 in dual play, and 4-2 in Big Ten action.
Illinois will close out the regular season on the road next weekend with a trip east to visit Penn State (April 19) and No. 16 Ohio State (April 21).
FULL RESULTS: NO. 35 ILLINOISÂ 4, NO. 58 PURDUE 1
Doubles:
No. 1 – Kate Duong/Megan Heuser def. Milic/Gallardo (PUR) - 6-2
No. 2 – Gibbs/Fodor (PUR) def. Josie Frazier/Kida Ferrari – 7-6 (7)
No. 3 – Larranaga/Wilson (PUR) def. Kasia Treiber/McKenna Schaefbauer – 6-4
Singles:
No. 1 – Megan Heuser vs. Carmen Gallardo Guevara (PUR) – 0-6, 6-3, 3-4, unfinished
No. 2 – McKenna Schaefbauer def. Csilla Fodor (PUR) – 6-2, 7-6 (0)
No. 3 – Violeta Martinez vs. Kennedy Gibbs (PUR) – 7-5, 4-6, 2-0, unfinished
No. 4 – Josie Frazier def. Juana Larranaga (PUR) – 7-5, 6-2
No. 5 – Kasia Treiber def. Tara Katarina Milic (PUR) – 6-1, 6-1
No. 6 – Kida Ferrari def. Ashlie Wilson (PUR) – 6-3, 6-2
Order of Finish:
Doubles: 1, 3, 2
Singles: 5, 6, 2, 4
Duration: 3:24
Attendance: 291
Played outdoors.
