CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Nearly halfway through their 2024 conference schedule, the Fighting Illini will take on a pair of programs in the top half of the Big Ten standings this weekend. Illinois will host Minnesota at Atkins Tennis Center on Friday before hitting the road for a match with Wisconsin on Sunday. The team’s dual with the Golden Gophers is set for 3 p.m. CT, while the meeting with the Badgers is slated for 11 a.m. CT.
Minnesota enters the weekend with a 10-7 overall record, including a 3-2 mark in conference play. The Golden Gophers are 3-2 in road matches this season, though they have won two of their three away duals in Big Ten action thus far.
No. 30 Wisconsin is one of two remaining unbeaten teams in league play, holding a 5-0 record against conference opponents and sitting at 14-2 overall. The Badgers have yet to lose on their home courts this season, as Sunday’s hosts are 8-0 in matches played in Madison, Wis., in 2024.
No. 32 Illinois is 12-6 on the season, including a 4-1 record in Big Ten play and an 8-1 mark in home matches.
LAST TIME OUT
Illinois handed Northwestern its first Big Ten loss of the season on Saturday at Atkins Tennis Center. The Wildcats took the doubles point, but a dominant singles performance from the Orange and Blue secured a 5-1 win for the Illini, their fourth consecutive victory over Northwestern.
Kasia Treiber earned a 6-3, 6-3 win at No. 4 singles to even the match at 1-1 before Kida Ferrari secured a 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 decision at No. 5 to put the Illini in front. Josie Frazier pushed Illinois’ lead to 3-1 with a three-set win at No. 3 singles.
Alice Xu earned a hard-fought win at No. 6 singles, and McKenna Schaefbauer won her tiebreaker just seconds later, bringing the match’s final score to 5-1 in the Illini’s favor.
ILLINI VS. THE FIELD
Illinois leads the all-time series with Minnesota, 35-18, while the Illini have won each of the last 12 meetings with Golden Gophers. Head coach Evan Clark is 7-0 against Minnesota during his time at Illinois.
Wisconsin has the edge in the all-time series between the programs, as the Illini are 24-27 against the Badgers. Illinois won last…
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