MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Illinois opened play at the Blue Gray Tennis Classic with a 4-0 win over Tulsa followed a delayed start due to rain. The Fighting Illini battled to clinch the squad’s fifth doubles point of the season before taking care of business at singles No. 4-6.
With the win over Tulsa, Illinois climbed to 8-2 on the season and extended its streak to five straight victories. The Fighting Illini improved to 3-1 in neutral matches as well. Tulsa moved to 5-6 on the year with the loss.
McKenna Schaefbauer and Violeta Martinez earned a quick 6-1 win at No. 2 doubles before Tulsa picked up a 6-4 win at No. 3 doubles. On the top doubles court, Megan Heuser and Alice Xu went back and forth with Tulsa’s duo before outlasting the Hurricane tandem in a tiebreaker, 7-5, to clinch the first point of the match for Illinois. Heuser and Xu are now 5-0 when working together this dual season and 2-0 on the top doubles court.
On the singles courts, Illinois won all six opening sets of action.
Schaefbauer earned her fifth-straight win with a 6-3, 6-2 decision at No. 4 singles to put the Orange and Blue up 2-0 over Tulsa. The sophomore improved to 11-4 overall and 8-1 on the dual season.
Kida Ferrari continued her winning ways, earning a 6-2, 6-3 win at No. 6 singles over Tulsa’s Erin McKenzie. Ferrari’s victory put Illinois up 3-0 and marked her fourth straight win as she improved to 6-1 on the dual campaign.
For the second time in three matches, Josie Frazier clinched the win for Illinois as the fifth-year senior won 6-2, 6-1 at No. 5 singles. Frazier improved to 4-0 at the No. 5 slot and is now 4-2 on…
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