URBANA, Ill. - Illinois women's tennis saw the doubles duo of Alice Xu and Tess Bucher advance to the ITA Midwest Regionals doubles quarterfinals while McKenna Schaefbauer and Ariel Madatali both progressed to the round of 16 in singles play. Day 3 from the Atkins Tennis Center featured the doubles round of 16 and singles round of 32. Play started outdoors but three singles matches ultimately concluded play indoors.Â
[9] Alice Xu and Tess Bucher earned an 8-6 victory over [5] Matsuno/Holod of Notre Dame to advance to the quarterfinals.
On the singles courts, Cara Mester and Lizzie Isyanov fell in straight sets. Ariel Madatali claimed a 6-4, 7-6(3) victory over [9] Kaede Usui (Wisconsin). McKenna Schaefbauer was one of the matches that ultimately finished play indoors. After dropping the opening frame 4-6, Schaefbauer bounced back and won the second frame in a 7-6(5) decision. The senior went down 0-3 to start the third set before battling back and knotting the score at 3-3. She ultimately won the third set, 7-5, in a tiebreaker.
Sunday's play will occur indoors beginning at 9 a.m. CT. Action will open with doubles quarterfinals followed by singles round of 16 and quarterfinals.
Illinois Day 3 Results (10/18/25)
Doubles - R16
9 AM - [9] Alice Xu/Tess Bucher def. [5] Matsuno/Holod (Notre Dame) - 8-6
Singles - R32
10:30 AM - Ariel Madatali def. [9] Kaede Usui (Wisconsin) - 6-4, 7-6(3)
10:30 AM - [8] McKenna Schaefbauer def. Gabriella Vanessa Lindgren (Michigan) - 4-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(5)
10:30 AM - [9] Sophia Holod (Notre Dame) def. Cara Mester - 6-1, 6-0
10:30 AM - [4] No. 60 Nao Nishino (Ohio State) def. Lizzie Isyanov - 6-0, 6-1
Illinois Day 4 Schedule (10/19/25)
Doubles - Quarterfinals
9 AM - [9] Alice Xu/Tess Bucher (Illinois) vs. [1] No. 14 Jones/Bernales (Michigan)
Singles - R16
9 AM - [8] McKenna Schaefbauer (Illinois) vs. Ellie Blackford (Michigan State) | Play again at 2 PM with win
10:30 AM - Ariel Madatali (Illinois) vs. [1] No. 26 Lily Jones (Michigan) | Play again at 2 PM with win
