CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The No. 39-ranked Illinois women’s tennis team opens the 2024 NCAA Tournament on Saturday morning in the First Round hosted by ninth-seeded Texas. The Orange and Blue will face No. 24 Georgia Tech on Saturday at 10 a.m. CT from the Texas Tennis Center.
Georgia Tech enters the tournament with a 13-9 overall record, including a 9-4 mark in ACC play. The Yellow Jackets are 1-1 in neutral matches this season and 5-6 overall when playing away from home. GT earned 4-3 decisions over both Wisconsin and Northwestern from the Big Ten this season. Former Illini Alexis Casati is in her fourth season on the Ramblin’ Wreck’s staff and has been elevated to the associate head coach. Georgia Tech has appeared in 24 consecutive NCAA Tournaments.
No. 39 Illinois is 17-9 on the season, including an 8-3 record in Big Ten play. The Illini are 4-4 in neutral matches this season.
The second match of the First Round from the Austin site is [9] No. 9 Texas (21-5; 12-1 Big 12) vs. No. 42 Harvard (19-4; 5-2 Ivy League), which is set for 1 p.m. on Saturday. The winners of the First Round matches will face off on Sunday at 1 p.m. in the Second Round.
LAST TIME OUT
The Illini opened the 2024 postseason with a Big Ten Women’s Tennis Tournament Second Round win over 12th-seeded Rutgers. The victory allowed Illinois to make its 16th straight quarterfinal appearance – a streak that began in 2008. The Fighting Illini would bow out with a loss in the quarterfinals.
ILLINI VS. THE FIELD
Illinois is 0-2 all-time against Georgia Tech, including 0-1 under head coach Evan Clark. UI hosted the Yellow Jackets during the 2023 dual campaign. GT claimed a 6-1 decision with Violeta Martinez earning the tally for the Illini.
Illinois is 2-6 all-time against Texas while Evan Clark owns a 1-2 record against the Longhorns since taking over.
The Illini are 4-1 all-time against Harvard with Evan Clark leading the Orange and Blue to a 1-0 mark.
NCAA TOURNAMENT
- 2024 marks the 15th appearance for the Fighting Illini in the NCAA Championships.
- The Illini have a 4-14 record in NCAA Tournament play.
- Illinois has reached the Round of 32 four times in program history (2001, 2003, 2009, 2018).
ILLINI NOTES
- UI’s 17 wins thus far are the third-most under Coach Clark and tie for the 10th-most in a season in program…
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