Heuser Clinches Fighting Illini’s 4-2 Win Over Colorado

Sunday, February 2

Urbana, Ill.

10 AM CT

University of Illinois

Colorado

Heuser Clinches Fighting Illini’s 4-2 Win Over Colorado

February 2, 2025 | Women's Tennis

Box Score Photo Gallery

RECAP

URBANA, Ill. – Fighting Illini senior Megan Heuser bounced back to clinch Illinois' 4-2 Sunday victory over Colorado from the Atkins Tennis Center.

Illinois moves to 2-2 and 2-1 at home this season as the squad continues to work through its gauntlet of a schedule. The Fighting Illini handed Colorado its first loss of the season as the Buffs moved to 4-1.

The Illinois doubles unit got back on track, claiming its third doubles points of the season. Action at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles finished simultaneously, with the clinch ultimately coming at No. 2.

Megan Heuser and Kida Ferrari's win on the top doubles court over No. 21 Nelson/Bubalo was never in doubt. The Illini tandem jumped out to a 3-0 advantage before the Buffs battled within 3-2, but the Orange and Blue would prevail, winning 6-2.

McKenna Schaefbauer and Kasia Treiber won a battle at No. 2 doubles. The duo opened up a 2-0 lead before Colorado's pair knotted things at 2-2 and 3-3. Illinois cruised from there, claiming the final three games for the 6-3 victory.

Schaefbauer would go on to be the first off the singles courts as she cruised to a 6-2, 6-0 straight-set win at No. 1.

Ariel Madatali was the next off the courts, earning a straight-set victory of her own, winning 6-2, 6-0 at No. 5 singles.

Colorado battled back, winning at No. 3 and No. 4 singles to pull the match within 3-2.

At No. 2 singles, Heuser bounced back from a first set tiebreaker loss (9-7) to claim 6-1 and 6-3 wins in sets two and three to clinch the win for Illinois.

FINAL SCORE: ILLINOIS (2-2) 4, COLORADO (4-1) 2

Doubles
No. 1 – Megan Heuser/Kida Ferrari def. No. 21 Nelson/ Bubalo (Colorado) - 6-2
No. 2 – McKenna Schaefbauer/Kasia Treiber def. El Sayed/Rebec (Colorado) - 6-3
No. 3 – Alice Xu/Violeta Martinez vs. Stanojevic/ Alexin (Colorado) - 4-4 unf.

Singles
No. 1 – No. 109 McKenna Schaefbauer def. Mila Stanojevic (Colorado) - 6-2, 6-0
No. 2 – Megan Heuser def. Aya El Sayed (Colorado) - 6-7(7), 6-1, 6-3
No. 3 – Rixt van der Werff (Colorado) def. No. 111 Violeta Martinez - 6-2, 7-5
No. 4 – Betina Tokac (Colorado) def. Kida Ferrari - 5-7, 6-0, 6-4
No. 5 – Ariel Madatali def. Pia Rebec (Colorado) - 6-2, 6-0
No. 6 – Kasia Treiber vs. Lera Alexin (Colorado) - 0-6, 7-6(3), 4-3 unfinished

Order of Finish

Doubles: 1, 2
Singles: 1, 5, 3, 4, 2

Duration: 2:47
Attendance: 118
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.