URBANA, Ill. – After winning the doubles point, Illinois came up short in singles play, suffering a 4-1 loss to Washington on Friday from the Atkins Tennis Center.
No. 44 Illinois moves to 8-5 on the season with the loss. The Orange and Blue are now 5-1 in home matches this season. No. 29-ranked Washington climbs to 10-3 with the victory.
The Fighting Illini claimed their seventh doubles match of the season on Friday over Washington. McKenna Schaefbauer and Violeta Martinez broke to tie their match at 2-2 and would win a stretch of four games to open up a 5-2 lead before taking the decision, 6-3.
On the top doubles court, Megan Heuser and Alice Xu battled with No. 34 Olsen/Jacobs. Action stayed even out to a 3-3 tie before the Illini duo broke on two of the last three games for the 6-3 upset of the Washington tandem.
The Fighting Illini claimed the opening singles sets at No. 1 and No. 5, which would ultimately be the two courts that went unfinished. Washington picked off the even singles courts, 2, 4, 6, respectively, to open a 3-1 lead. From there, all eyes turned to the odd matches.
UW would ultimately earn the win at No. 3 singles in a 7-5, 6-3 decision.
Following a weekend off, Illinois will host Maryland and Rutgers on March 15 and 17, respectively.
FULL RESULTS: ILLINOIS 1, WASHINGTON 4
Doubles:
No. 1 – Megan Heuser/Alice Xu def. No. 34 Olsen/Jacobs (Washington) – 6-3
No. 2 – McKenna Schaefbauer/Violeta Martinez def. Fortin/Matsuda (Washington) – 6-3
No. 3 – Kida Ferrari/Josie Frazier vs. Sakar/Gagnon (Washington) – 3-5,…
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