URBANA, Ill. – After trailing 3-0 to Georgia Tech, the Fighting Illini women's tennis team battled back to knot the match at 3-3 before suffering a 4-3 loss to the Yellow Jackets on Friday from Atkins Tennis Center.
Illinois moves to 1-2 on the season and 1-1 at home this season as the squad continues to work through its gauntlet of a schedule.
To get things started on Friday, Georgia Tech became the first team of the season to take the doubles point over the Fighting Illini this season with wins at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles. The Yellow Jackets' lead would grow to a 3-0 advantage with singles wins at No. 4 and No. 1.
From there, Illinois battled all the way back to knot the match at 3-3. The first Illini on the board was Kasia Treiber, who earned a 6-4, 6-4 win at No. 6 singles. No. 111-ranked Violeta Martinez followed with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 come-from-behind win at No. 3 singles. Kida Ferrari's 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(5) victory at No. 5 singles pulled Illinois even with GT at 3-3.
The Yellow Jackets would come away with a 4-3 victory after securing a three-set win at No. 2 singles.
Illinois will close out weekend play on Sunday when Colorado (3-0) comes to town. Action from Atkins Tennis Center is slated for 10 a.m. CT, with free admission along with coffee and donuts for attendees.
FINAL SCORE: ILLINOIS (1-2) 3, GEORGIA TECH (4-2) 4
Doubles
No. 1 – No. 54 Cruz/Roach (GT) def. Megan Heuser/Kida Ferrari - 6-3
No. 2 – Sharabura/Licht (GT) def. McKenna Schaefbauer/Kasia Treiber - 7-5
No. 3 – Alice Xu/Violeta Martinez vs. Nicholson/Bilchev - 4-5, unf.
Singles
No. 1 – Alejandra Cruz (GT) def. No. 109 McKenna Schaefbauer - 6-2, 6-2
No. 2 – Scarlett Nicholson (GT) def. Megan Heuser - 5-7, 6-3, 6-3
No. 3 – No. 111 Violeta Martinez def. Given Roach (GT) - 2-6, 6-3, 6-3
No. 4 – Kate Sharabura (GT) def. Ariel Madatali - 6-1, 6-4
No. 5 – Kida Ferrari def. Taly Licht (GT) - 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(5)
No. 6 – Kasia Treiber def. Kylie Olivia Carneiro (GT) - 6-4, 6-4
Order of Finish
Doubles: 2, 1
Singles: 4, 1, 6, 3, 5, 2
Duration: Started 3:06
Attendance: 110
Played indoors
NEXT UP
The Fighting Illini will switch gears to host the ITA National Indoor Team Championships from Feb. 7-9, with Northwestern also hosting from Feb. 7-11. Illinois is guaranteed at least three matches in the event and will co-host with Northwestern again in 2026.
