RALEIGH, N.C. – Illinois women’s tennis got back to its winning ways with a 4-0 victory over Furman to close out the ITA Kick-Off Weekend in Raleigh, N.C. The Illini improved to 2-1 on the dual season with the victory.
“I was so pleased with how we bounced back today,” shared head coach Evan Clark. “Doubles was fantastic and got us moving in the right direction. Then we won all six first sets and did a great job of holding off a very competitive Furman squad in second sets. Again, we love where this team is at and how we have started the season. We feel like we are in a great position headed into a very big weekend at home next Friday and Sunday.”
Doubles play was a race to the finish with action at No. 1 and No. 2 wrapping up in order as the Illini claimed the opening point. No. 19-ranked Kate Duong and Megan Heuser wrapped up a 6-1 victory at No. 1 before Emily Casati and Josie Frazier secured the doubles point with a 6-3 victory at No. 2. Despite not finishing, Ashley Yeah and Violeta Martinez went down 0-2 to start before winning the next five games to be up 5-2 when the doubles point was clinched.
Illinois opened singles play with wins across the board at No. 1-6 in set one. From there, Duong wrapped up set two with another 6-2 win to be the first off the singles courts. Next done was Heuser at No. 4, who won 6-3, 6-1 for the 3-0 Illini lead. Josie Frazier clinched the win with a 6-3, 6-4 win at No. 3 just before a couple other teammates could conclude play.
Yeah (No. 2), Treiber (No. 5) and Kida Ferrari (No. 6) would all go unfinished.
Illinois opens its spring home schedule next weekend as No. 25 Georgia Tech and Notre Dame visit Atkins Tennis Center on Feb. 3 and 5, respectively.
FULL RESULTS
DOUBLES
No. 1 – No. 19 Kate Duong/Megan Heuser def. Dawson/Snyder (Furman) – 6-1
No. 2 – Emily Casati/Josie Frazier def. Pennings/Schulson (Furman) – 6-3
No. 3 – Ashley Yeah/Violeta Martinez vs. Griffith/Dillon (Furman) – 5-2, unfinished
SINGLES
No. 1 – Kate Duong def. Jess Dawon (Furman) – 6-2, 6-2
No. 2 – No. 70 Ashley Yeah vs. Ellie Schulson (Furman) – 6-4, 5-4, unfinished
No. 3 – Josie Frazier def. Marissa Pennings (Furman) – 6-3, 6-4
No. 4 – Meagan Heuser def. Sara Snyder (Furman) – 6-3, 6-1
No. 5 – Kasia Treiber vs. Madison Dillon (Furman) – 6-3, 4-6, 5-1, unfinished
No. 6 – Kida Ferrari vs. Alexa Griffith (Furman) – 6-0, 6-7 (8), unfinished
ORDER OF FINISH:
Doubles – 1, 2
Singles – 1, 4, 3
