Dominant Singles Play Leads Illini to Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals

COLUMBUS, Ohio – After [9] won the doubles point, Illinois secured four wins on the singles courts to earn a 4-1 victory in the First Round of the Big Ten Tournament. Alice Xu clinched the match for the eighth-seeded Orange and Blue from Columbus, Ohio. The Fighting Illini have now won their opening match in the Big Ten Tournament for the 10th-straight event - a streak that began in head coach Evan Clark's interim season at the helm.

Illinois improved to 13-12 overall with its fourth-straight win. Nebraska is now 15-9 on the year. The Orange and Blue are now 10-8 against the Huskers all-time. 

At No. 2 doubles, McKenna Schaefbauer and Ariel Madatali were the first duo off the court after routing their Nebraska counterparts, 6-0. The Illini tandem is now 4-5 when teaming up this season. 

Nebraska would win the doubles decisions at No. 3 and 1, respectively, to take a 1-0 lead on the match.

On the singles courts, Illinois won four first sets and all five completed second sets. 

Tess Bucher worked quickly at No. 5, claiming a 6-1, 6-3 decision to even the match score at 1-1 with the Huskers. The Illini sophomore improved to 9-13 overall and 8-10 in dual matches with her third straight win.

At No. 2 singles, Kimiko Cooper secured a 6-4, 6-1 win to give the Orange and Blue a 2-1 lead on the scoreboard. The All-Freshman Team selection improved to 10-10 in dual play this season as she claimed her third straight decision. 

Cara Mester was the next Illini off the courts after securing a 6-4, 6-3 victory at No. 6, giving Illinois a 3-1 advantage. Mester improved to 18-5 overall and 12-3 in dual play with the win. The sophomore has now won her last four outings.

After having six of her last seven matches go unfinished, Alice Xu clinched Thursday's win for the Fighting Illini with a 7-5, 6-2 win at No. 3. Xu is now 9-6 overall and 8-4 in dual play this season. Xu now owns three clinches on the season.

Play was abandoned at No. 1 and 4.

NEXT UP

With the First Round win, [8] Illinois advances to face the top-seeded tournament host, No. 5 Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals. Friday's action is slated for 8 a.m. CT from the Auer Tennis Complex in Columbus, Ohio. 

Illinois and Ohio State did not meet during the regular season. The Buckeyes own a 21-3 overall record after going 12-1 in Big Ten play. OSU enters postseason play on a 10-match win streak and 10-0 at home in 2026.

[8] #55 ILLINOIS (13-12, 7-6 B1G) 4, [9] #47 NEBRASKA (15-9, 7-6 B1G) 1

Doubles:
1 - No. 40 Raidt/Spencer (NEB) def. No. 67 Tess Bucher/Alice Xu (ILL) - 7-5
2 - McKenna Schaefbauer/Ariel Madatali (ILL) vs. Coe/Trigosso (NEB) - 6-0, 
3 - Rizzetto/Rossini (NEB) def. Cara Mester/Lizzie Isyanov (ILL) vs.  - 6-4

Order of finish: 2, 3, 1

Singles: 
1 - No. 58 McKenna Schaefbauer (ILL) vs. Maria Taranova (NEB) - 2-6, 6-3, 1-1, unfinished
2 - Kimiko Cooper (ILL) def. Katie Spencer (NEB) - 6-4, 6-1
3 - Alice Xu (ILL) def. Conley Raidt (NEB) - 7-5, 6-2
4 - Ariel Madatali (ILL) vs. Emma Rizzetto (NEB) - 5-7, 5-3, unfinished
5 - Tess Bucher (ILL) def. Catherine Gagnon (NEB) - 6-1, 6-3
6 - Cara Mester (ILL) def. Tiziana Rossini (NEB) - 6-4, 6-3

Order of finish: 5, 2, 6, 3
Duration: 2:41
Played outdoors