LUBBOCK, Texas – Illinois Women's Tennis claimed three third set victories to take down 30th-ranked Virginia Tech in the Orange and Blue's opening match of the ITA Kick-Off Weekend in Lubbock, Texas. Illinois improved to 3-0 to start the 2016 campaign and advances to play No. 17 Texas Tech tomorrow, Sunday, Jan. 24, in a 1 p.m. CT contest at the McLeod Tennis Center.
"First off, what a tremendous effort by Virginia Tech," opened head coach Evan Clark. "They made us earn each point and we feel very fortunate to come out with the win. There is no doubt in my mind they will have a great year."
"On our end, it's the proudest I've been of our group since I got here," stated Clark. "We competed and battled at every spot and that's all we can ever ask for. To pull out several three-set matches is a testament to all the hard work this group has put in."
Madie Baillon and Jerricka Boone got things rolling with a 6-1 victory on the second doubles court. With their third victory of the season in the books, the duo has given up just one game (today's) to an opposing tandem.
On the third doubles court, Alexis Casati and Daniela Pedraza Novak teamed up for a 7-5 win resulting in the Fighting Illini earning the doubles point. Court one action featuring Louise Kwong and Ines Vias did not finish but saw the Illinois duo leading 5-4 when stopped.
"As always, earning the doubles point was huge today," Clark said. "Madie and Jerricka continue to take care business in doubles and I have been so pleased with doubles in general so far this season."
Virginia Tech fired back to knot the contest at one set apiece, picking up a point at No. 4 singles. Ines Vias fell to her counterpart in the only straight-set decision of the afternoon, 6-4, 6-2.
After winning the opening set 6-4 at No. 1 singles, Casati fell to No. 104 Ilinca Stoica in the following sets by matching scores of 6-3, 6-3. This is the first match of Casati's junior season that she's led by a set and then lost.
Falling behind 2-1, Illinois took the next two singles matches to regain its lead. Pedraza Novak picked up a three-set victory over No. 108 Caroline Daxhelet. The freshman won by a line of 6-2, 4-6, 6-3. Following suit, Baillon notched a comeback win at No. 6 singles, defeating her opposition in a 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(4) fashion.
Virginia Tech picked up its third tally in the match with a three-set victory at No. 3. Boone put up a fight in the opening set, falling in a tiebreaker 11-9. After coming back and winning the middle frame 6-2, the junior fell 6-2 in the deciding set.
With the match tied at 3-3, all eyes were on the second court where Louise Kwong and Virginia Tech's Francesca Fusinato were battling for the deciding point. Falling 1-6 in the opening set, Kwong mounted a comeback, winning the next set in the tiebreaker decided at 7-2. The junior went on to win the third frame in a 6-4 fashion to give Illinois the upset victory over the Hokies.
"In singles, we really put ourselves in some really tough positions and to our credit we found our way out and pulled out some very critical wins at certain spots," added Clark. "I thought everyone put themselves in position to win today but credit to Daniela, Madie and Louise for digging deep and winning those third sets."
With a berth to the 2016 ITA National Team Indoor Championships on the line, Illinois will play the campus-site host, No. 17 Texas Tech, tomorrow Sunday, Jan. 24, at 1 p.m. Live scoring will be available for the contest from: http://www.statbroadcast.com/events/statmonitr.php?gid=ttu.
"We will shift our focus to a very tough Texas Tech team tomorrow," said Clark. "We could not be more excited to compete with a berth for the National Indoors on the line."
For more coverage of the Orange and Blue visit FIGHTINGILLINI.com and be sure to follow the team on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
NO. 58 ILLINOIS 4, NO. 30 VIRGINIA TECH 3
Doubles
Louise Kwong / Ines Vias (Illinois) vs. Fusinato/Stoica (VT) – 5-4 (DNF)
Jerricka Boone / Madie Baillon (Illinois) def. Mita/Williford (VT) – 6-1
Alexis Casati / Daniela Pedraza Novak (Illinois) def. Cerezo-Codina/Daxhelet (VT) – 7-5
Singles
Stoica (VT) def. Alexis Casati (Illinois)– 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
Louise Kwong (Illinois) def. Fusinato (VT) – 1-6, 7-6(2), 6-4
Cerezo-Codina (VT) def. Jerricka Boone (Illinois) – 7-6(9), 2-6, 6-2
Daxhelet (VT) def. Ines Vias (Illinois) – 6-4, 6-2
Daniela Pedraza Novak (Illinois) def. Williford (VT) – 6-2, 4-6, 6-3
Madie Baillon (Illinois) def. Mita (VT) – 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(4)
