CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – With two weekends of Big Ten play in the books, the Fighting Illini women’s tennis team returns home to host in-state rival Northwestern. Action will take place from the Atkins Tennis Center on Saturday, March 30, at 4 p.m. CT as part of a doubleheader with the Illinois men’s squad.
No. 37 Northwestern enters the weekend with a 13-4 overall record including a 4-0 mark in Big Ten play. While the Wildcats are 8-0 when playing at home this season, they are 3-4 in away matches.
No. 41 Illinois sits at 11-6 on the season and 3-1 in league play through two Big Ten weekends.
LAST TIME OUT
In their first weekend of Big Ten away matches, the Illini returned home with a split. The Orange and Blue took a 4-2 loss to Iowa on Friday before responding with a 4-1 victory over Nebraska on Sunday. Former Illini associate head coach German Dalmagro is now the head coach of the Cornhuskers.
UI earned the doubles point against Iowa with wins at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles. Illini freshman Alice Xu picked up a singles win at No. 6, marking three straight victories on the singles courts.
Sunday’s results would start with Nebraska earning the doubles point before the Illini responded with four singles wins before the Huskers could pick up another decision. Xu won again for her fourth straight win while McKenna Schaefbauer, Josie Frazier, and Kasia Treiber each earned wins as well.
ILLINI VS. THE FIELD
Northwestern leads the all-time series 55-11. Illinois has won the last three meetings against the Wildcats. Under Clark, Illinois is 3-5 against Northwestern.
ILLINI NOTES
- After receiving votes in the final two top-25 polls, Illinois moved up to No. 24 in the first computerized rankings of the season. The ranking was the best by the Illini since the 2019 campaign.
- The Illini now sit at No. 41 with an 11-6 record.
- On Feb. 21, Kasia Treiber was tabbed the Big Ten Women’s Tennis Player of the Week – the first honor of her career. Treiber posted a 2-0 weekend at No. 3 singles in the Fighting Illini’s wins over Brown and Marshall at Atkins Tennis Center. Both were straight-set victories.
- Illinois is off to a 7-1 start when playing at the Atkins Tennis Center this season, while the Illini are 2-1 in…
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