Illini Headed to ITA Women's Central Sectional

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Fighting Illini women's tennis will be represented at the ITA Central Sectional Championships in College Station, Texas, from Nov. 6-9.

McKenna Schaefbauer earned a spot in the women's singles event and Alice Xu and Tess Bucher will represent the Orange and Blue in doubles. Ariel Madatali and Schaefbauer are the first alternate for the doubles draw at the event as well.

Schaefbauer opens her singles action on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. CT against former Illinois student-athlete Violeta Martinez, who now plays at Texas A&M. Bucher and Xu begin play on Thursday at 9 a.m. in singles action. The Illini tandem will face Tsai/Gomez O'Hayon from TCU

The single-elimination tournament is one of four events that will serve as pathways into the NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships, scheduled for Nov. 18-23 in Orlando, Florida. Six singles players from the ITA Central Sectional – the four semifinalists and two quarterfinal playoff winners – will earn a spot in the national competition later this month.

This weekend's tournament features 32 singles players and 16 doubles teams across four days of action. The field includes student-athletes from Arkansas, Baylor, Houston, Illinois, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Michigan, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Northwestern, Ohio State, Oklahoma, SMU, TCU, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, and Wisconsin.

Tentative Schedule of Play

11/6 - Singles R32, Singles Cons R16, Doubles R16

• 9 AM - Doubles R16

• 10:30 AM - Singles R32 Top Half of Draw

• 12 PM - Singles R32 Bottom Half of Draw

• 1:30 PM - Singles Cons R16 Top Half

• 3 PM - Singles Cons R16 Bottom Half

11/7- Singles R16, Singles Cons QF, Doubles QF, Doubles Cons QF

• 10AM - Doubles QF

• 10 AM - Doubles Cons QF

• 1 PM - Singles R16

• 1 PM - Singles Cons QF

11/8 - Singles QF, Singles Cons SF, Doubles SF, Doubles Cons SF

• 10 AM - Doubles SF

• 10 AM - Doubles Cons SF

• 1 PM - Singles QF

• 1 PM - Singles Cons SF

11/9 - Singles QF Playoff, Doubles 3/4 Playoff, Doubles Cons F, Singles Cons F

• 10 AM - Singles QF Playoff

• 10 AM - Doubles ¾ Playoff

•  1 PM - Doubles Cons F

• 1 PM - Singles Cons F

*Of note there shall be a consolation event played to completion for all first-round losers in singles and doubles.