Box Score
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Fighting Illini women's tennis closed its first regular-season road trip to Michigan since 2022 with a 4-0 sweep at No. 73 Michigan State. Illinois picked up the doubles point before claiming decisions on the even-numbered singles courts from the MSU Indoor Tennis Center.
No. 48 Illinois improved to 9-10 on the season and 4-4 in Big Ten action. The Spartans are now 11-8 overall and 3-5 in Big Ten play.Â
Illinois got on the scoreboard first, earning wins at No. 2 and 1 doubles, respectively. The Illini have won 11 doubles points this season, including five in Big Ten play.
At No. 2 doubles, McKenna Schaefbauer and Kasia Treiber never trailed on the way to a 6-2 win. The Illini tandem improved to 6-1 in Big Ten action this season with the victory. Alice Xu and Violeta Martinez secured a 6-2 decision at No. 1 doubles to clinch the day's opening point for Illinois. The win marked the tandem's first decision at No. 1 doubles.
Playing at No. 6 singles on Sunday, Xu pushed the Illini's lead to 2-0 with a straight-set win. Her 6-1, 6-2 decision improved Xu to 1-1 in Big Ten play this season.
Ariel Madatali pushed the Illini advantage to 3-0 over Michigan State with a 6-4, 6-0 win at No. 4 singles. The freshman improved to 3-1 in league play and owns a team-best 15 wins on the campaign.
Megan Heuser closed out the Illinois victory with a three-set win at No. 2 singles. After trailing 3-1 in the opening set, Heuser rattled off four games for the 6-3 win. After falling 6-2 in the second set, the senior battled back for a 6-4 decision in the decisive third set. The clinch was the fourth of the season for Heuser as she improved to 11 wins on the season and 4-2 in Big Ten play.
FINAL SCORE: NO. 48 ILLINOIS (9-10, 4-4 B1G) 4, #73 MICHIGAN (11-8, 3-5 B1G) 0
Doubles
No. 1 – Alice Xu/Violeta Martinez def. Blackford/Vehvilainen (MSU) - 6-2
No. 2 – McKenna Schaefbauer/Kasia Treiber def. Parkins-Godwi/Purser (MSU) - 6-2
No. 3 – Megan Heuser/Ariel Madatali vs. Morais/Brahmbhatt (MSU) - 3-4, unfinished
Singles
No. 1 – McKenna Schaefbauer vs. Liisa Vehvilainen (MSU) - 6(2)-7, 6-3, 1-4, unfinished
No. 2 – Megan Heuser def. Ellie Blackford (MSU) - 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
No. 3 – Violeta Martinez vs. Amara Brahmbhatt (MSU) - 6(6)-7, 6-3, 4-1, unfinished
No. 4 – Ariel Madatali def. Matilde Morais (MSU) - 6-4, 6-0
No. 5 – Kasia Treiber vs. Hanna Tsitavets (MSU) - 6-4, 4-6, 1-5, unfinished
No. 6 – Alice Xu def. Oriana Parkins-Godwi (MSU) - 6-1, 6-2
Order of Finish
Doubles: 2, 1
Singles: 6, 4, 2
Duration: 2:47
Played indoors
NEXT UP
The Fighting Illini return home on April 5 and 6 for their final matches from the Atkins Tennis Center this season. Action vs. No. 53 Penn State is slated for 12 p.m. CT on Saturday followed by a 12 p.m. match vs. No. 12 Ohio State on Sunday.
