3/28-UI women's tennis beats Hawai'i
Updated: March 28, 2009
MANOA, Hawai’i– The No.33-ranked Illinois women’s tennis team bounced back from a tough loss on Friday with a solid 5-2 win this afternoon over the Hawai’i Rainbow Wahine at the UH Tennis Complex in Manoa, Hawai’i. In the match, the Illini started off hot sweeping all three doubles matches for an early 1-0 lead. The Orange and Blue continued their strong push notching four victories in singles.
“It was good to end the spring break trip with a victory,” Illinois head coach Michelle Dasso said. “I’m proud of how the girls responded after the heartbreaking loss yesterday. They came out fired up from the start and played some of the best doubles I’ve seen so far this season at all three positions. We are excited to return home and get back into Big Ten play next weekend.”
With the win, the Illini improve to 12-4 overall on the season, while the Rainbow Wahine fall to 8-8.
The Illini came out firing on all cylinders in doubles. The Illinois duo of Annie McCarthy and Amy Allin started the ball rolling as they easily took care of Ellen Linsenbolz and Aglae Van den Bergh (UH) 8-2, at No. 3 doubles. In the No. 2 slot, redshirt-sophomore Leigh Finnegan and freshman Chelcie Abajian teamed up and kept the momentum going as they downed UH’s Melinda Wong and Alyssa Nafarrete, 8-3. Putting the finishing touches on the doubles sweep was the Illini tandem of junior Megan Fudge and sophomore Marisa Lambropoulos, as they polished off the duo of Anja-Vanessa Peter and Sophie Kobuch, 8-4, at No. 1 doubles.
In singles, the Illini really made their stand, as junior Kristina Minor tallied a straight sets victory over Aglae Van den Bergh (UH), 6-3, 6-2 on court six. At No. 5 singles, freshman Amy Allin followed with a straight sets win of her own, looking sharp from start to finish in her 6-3, 6-2 victory over Alyssa Nafarrette (UH). With the Illini holding a 3-0 lead, freshman Chelcie Abajian clinched the win for Illinois, picking up a 6-1, 6-3 win over Melinda Wong (UH) on court four.
Hawai’i grabbed a win at No. 1 singles as Illinois’ Leigh Finnegan dropped a hard fought battle to the Rainbow Wahine’s Ellen Linsenbolz, 6-2, 6-3. Sophomore Marisa Lambropoulos gave the Illini their fifth singles victory on the afternoon as she grinded out a 7-6 (8), 7-5 win over Anja-Vanessa Peter (UH) at No. 3 singles. Rounding out the afternoon, junior Megan Fudge played her heart out at No. 2 singles, but fell short in a tough three-set match to the Rainbow Wahine’s Sophie Kobuch 6-4, 4-6, 1-0 (11-9).
The Illini return home for a pair of conference matches next weekend against Minnesota on April 4 and Iowa on April 5. Both matches are set for 12 p.m. CT starts and will be held at the Atkins Tennis Center.
Match Results
#33 Illinois 5, Hawai’i 2
March 28, 2009
UH Tennis Complex
Manoa, Hawai’i
Doubles
1. Marisa Lambropoulos/Megan Fudge (UI) def. Anja-Vanessa Peter/Sophie Kobuch (UH) 8-4
2. Leigh Finnegan /Chelcie Abajian (UI) def. Melinda Wong/Alyssa Nafarrete (UH) 8-3
3. Amy Allin/Annie McCarthy (UI) def. Ellen Linsenbolz /Aglae Van den Bergh (UH) 8-2
Order of Finish (3,2,1)
Singles
1. Ellen Linsenbolz (UH) def. No. 103 Leigh Finnegan (UI) 6-2, 6-3
2. Sophie Kobuch (UH) def. No. 108 Megan Fudge (UI) 6-4, 4-6, 1-0 (11-9)
3. Marisa Lambropoulos (UI) def. Anja-Vanessa Peter (UH) 7-6 (8), 7-5
4. Chelcie Abajian (UI) def. Melinda Wong (UH), 6-1, 6-3
5. Amy Allin (UI) def. Alyssa Nafarrete (UH) 6-3, 6-2
6. Kristina Minor (UI) def. Aglae Van den Bergh (UH), 6-3, 6-2
Order of Finish (6,5,4*,1,3,2)
*Denotes Clinching Match
