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Illini Return to Big Ten Play at Indiana Friday
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The Illini battle Indiana Friday at 2 p.m. CT.
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March 11, 2010
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - After facing two straight non-conference opponents, the No. 44 Illini women's tennis team (5-6, 0-1 Big Ten) returns to Big Ten play at No. 28 Indiana (10-4, 0-1 Big Ten) on Friday at 2 p.m. CT. The Hoosiers lead the all-time series with Illinois, 33-6, though the Illini won last year's contest in Urbana, 5-2.
"Indiana has had a very good season so far and are a much improved team from last year," head coach Michelle Dasso. "The Big Ten in general is getting stronger and stronger and each match we face our team needs to be ready to battle from the very first point of doubles. This match is going to be key for our team's confidence and hopefully we can make a statement."
If the match is played indoors, live stats will be available HERE.
LAST TIME OUT
Despite dropping the doubles point, the Illini stormed back in singles to top No. 62 TCU, 4-3 March 7 at Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center. With the win, Illinois picked up its first true road win of the season.
The Horned Frogs won their first doubles point at home this season, but the Illini quickly responded in singles, as sophomore Chelcie Abajian defeated Gaby Mastromarino in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3 to tie the match at one apiece. No. 112 senior Megan Fudge improved to 8-2 in her last 10 matches, topping No. 94 Nina Munch-Soegaard, 6-0, 7-5. TCU's win at No. 2 singles evened the score at two apiece, before junior Leigh Finnegan defeated Idunn Hertzberg, 6-4, 6-4 for her fourth straight win and classmate Marisa Lambropoulos clinched the victory with a 7-6 (5), 6-3 defeat of No. 86 Katariina Tuohimaa.
CAMPBELL'S/ITA NATIONAL RANKINGS
Despite picking up a win last weekend, the Illini fell one spot to No. 44, while Indiana jumped two spots to No. 28 after dropping two straight matches. Individually, Rachael White is at No. 94, while Megan Fudge made her season debut in singles (No. 112) and doubles with partner Leigh Finnegan (No. 46). Representing Indiana in the rankings is Leslie Hureau at No. 101, while in doubles, Lindsey Stuckey and Evgeniya Vertesheva checked in at No. 24.
SCOUTING INDIANA
The Hoosiers won six consecutive matches to open the season, before falling at then-No. 1 Duke on Feb. 6, 7-0. Indiana's biggest win of the season came on Feb. 21 against then-No. 10 Tennessee, with the Hoosiers just missing the shutout with a 6-1 victory, but reached their highest ranking of the year the following week at No. 23. Indiana has dropped its last two matches, 7-0, though it was to powerhouses No. 1 Northwestern and No. 3 Notre Dame.
A trio of Hoosiers currently boast 19 overall singles wins, including Leslie Hureau, Lindsey Stuckey and Evgeniya Vertesheva, while Stuckey leads in dual wins with 10 at Nos. 4 and 5. In doubles, the team of Hureau and Myriam Sopel has tallied a team-best 15 wins overall, while the 24th-ranked doubles team of Stuckey and Vertesheva has posted a 12-2 mark overall and in dual matches.
NEXT UP
The Illini will battle Wisconsin in the third match of the day at Atkins Tennis Center on Friday, March 19 at 7 p.m., following the men's match against Illinois State, which is slated to begin at 3 p.m.
