FightingIllini.com

The Official Home of University of Illinois Athletics

    Women's Tennis

    Illini Freshman into Quarterfinals of Regionals

    Megan Fudge becomes first Illini to make quarterfinals since 2004

    Freshman Megan Fudge becomes first Illini to make quarterfinals since 2004.
    Freshman Megan Fudge becomes first Illini to make quarterfinals since 2004.

    Oct. 22, 2006

    EAST LANSING, Mich. - Illinois freshman Megan Fudge became the first Orange and Blue netter to advance to the quarterfinals of the ITA Midwest Regional Championships since 2004 with her defeat of Suzie Matzenauer of Northwestern in the Round of 16 today in East Lansing. Fudge, who now faces No. 5-8-seeded Randi Schuler of Purdue, has accomplished a lot in her first ITA event as a Fighting Illini, and will continue her march to the Regional crown tomorrow with action at the MSU Indoor Facility on the campus of Michigan State University beginning at 9 a.m.

     

    "Megan has made a name for herself at Regionals," head coach Michelle Dasso said. "Not only is Megan a talented tennis player, but she plays smart and plays with heart. That combination is why I am confident she will be a top collegiate player. She is the epitome of what I want Fighting Illini women's tennis to be all about."

     

    Fudge is among a talented group of underclassmen in the region who are making a name for themselves in their debut season. Entering into the quarterfinals, three competitors are freshmen, including Fudge, two are sophomores followed by two juniors. Fudge and Vanessa Frankowski of Eastern Michigan, a junior, are the only two netters left in the field to have started in the qualifying draw.

     

    Fudge's performance at the Midwest Regional Championships also is the best since 2004 when Cynthia Goulet made it to the quarterfinal match where she fell to then top-seeded Cristelle Grier of Northwestern. Should Fudge advance, she will become the first Illini since Jennifer McGaffigan made the semifinals in 2003, where McGaffigan also fell to Grier. McGaffigan finished her illustrious career at Illinois as the winningest netter in school history.

     

    For continued coverage of Fudge and the Illini at the Midwest Regional Championships, visit www.fightingillini.com at the conclusion of each day's action.

     

     

    SCHEDULED MATCHES
    SINGLES

    Thursday, Oct. 19
    Round of 64 (Singles Qualifier)
    No. 1-4-seeded Leigh Finnegan (ILL) def. Heather Harding (UWGB); 3-6, 6-2, 6-0
    No. 9-12-seeded Megan Fudge (ILL) def. Kim Roberts (WIS); 6-1, 6-1
    Julie Voss (OSU) def. Shivani Davé (ILL); 7-5, 6-4
    Alejandra Meza Cuadra (ILL) def. Katya Mironova (WIS); 7-5, 6-1
    Kylie Moore (MARQ) def. Kristina Minor (ILL); 7-5, 7-5

     

    Round of 32 (Singles Qualifier)
    No. 1-4-seeded Leigh Finnegan (ILL) def. Petra Rehusova (DePaul); 6-1, 3-6, 6-2
    No. 9-12-seeded Megan Fudge (ILL) def. Alexis Conill (NU); 6-1, 7-5
    Merel Beelen (IOWA) def. Alejandra Meza Cuadra (ILL); 6-1, 6-3

     

    Consolation Matches
    Shivani Davé (ILL) def. Sam Kintzell (BG); 6-0, 6-3
    Kristina Minor     (ILL) def. Tiffany Foster (WSU); 6-4, 6-1

     

    Friday, Oct. 20
    SINGLES

    Round of 16 (Singles Qualifier)
    Golda Rubina (CHICAGO ST.) def. No. 1-4-seeded Leigh Finnegan (ILL); 6-7(7), 6-4, 6-1
    No. 9-12-seeded Megan Fudge (ILL) def. Ashley Moccia (WMU); 6-2, 6-1

     

    DOUBLES

    Round of 64 (Doubles Main Draw)
    Cosmina Ciobanu/Kali Krisik (ND) def. Finnegan/Fudge (ILL); 8-5

    Tijana Koprivica/Ashley Schellhas (MINN), Meza Cuadra/ Davé (ILL); 8-3

    Angela DiPastina/Christina Keesey (OSU) def. Qu/Minor (ILL); 8-3

     

     

    Consolation
    Meza Cuadra/ Davé (ILL) def. Sarah Galon/Morgan Ungerott (CLEVELAND ST.); 8-3

    Priyanka Parekh/Noriko Saruto (WMU) def. Qu/Minor (ILL); 8-4

     

    Saturday, Oct. 21
    SINGLES

    Round 64 (Singles Main Draw)
    Megan Fudge     (ILL) def. Keri Robison (NU); 6-1, 3-6, 6-4

    Chisako Sugiyama (MICH) def. Momei Qu (ILL); 6-2, 6-0

     

    Round 32 (Singles Main Draw)
    Megan Fudge     (ILL) def. Kara Delicata (MICH); 6-0, 6-3

     

    Consolation (Singles)

    Momei Qu (ILL) def. Erin Watkins (MARQ); 6-1, 6-1

     

    Sunday, Oct. 22
    SINGLES

    Round 16 (Singles Main Draw)
    Megan Fudge     (ILL) def. Suzie Matzenauer (NU); 6-3, 6-4

     

    Monday, Oct. 23

    Quarterfinals (Singles Main Draw)

    Megan Fudge (ILL) vs. No. 5-8-seeded Randi Schuler (PUR), 10 a.m.

     

    TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
    Monday, Oct. 23
    Finals (Doubles Main Draw), Quarterfinals and Semifinals (Singles Main Draw)
    Tuesday, Oct. 24
    Finals (Singles Main Draw)

     

    Illinois Athletics

    Top Videos

    YouTube

    Women's Tennis Vidoes

    All-Access

    See more videos

    Twitter

    Follow Us On Twitter

    Contact

    University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics

    Bielfeldt Athletic Administration Building
    1700 S. Fourth Street, Champaign, IL 61820
    217-333-3630 | E-Mail Us