CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – No. 36-ranked Illinois women’s tennis opens the 2023 postseason on Friday night in the Big Ten Tournament hosted by Purdue. The Orange and Blue will face the winner of No. 6 seed Iowa and No. 11 seed Indiana on Friday at 5 p.m. CT from the Schwartz Tennis Center.
Illinois finished the regular season with a 17-8 overall record and 8-3 reading in Big Ten play to tie for third place. Thanks to a top-25 upset of No. 21 Wisconsin earlier in the season, UI grabbed the No. 3 seed in the tournament.
The last time Illinois finished third during the regular season was 2018 when the squad finished 9-3.
Earlier in the week, the league office announced three Fighting Illini women’s tennis student-athletes as All-Conference and Sportsmanship Award honors. Kate Duong and Ashley Yeah were named to the All-Big Ten Team while Kasia Treiber was tabbed a Sportsmanship Award honoree.
Three individuals held 16 wins in singles play this regular season, including Yeah (16-12), Treiber (16-11) and Megan Heuser (16-9). Additionally, Violeta Martinez has won six-straight singles decisions.
On the doubles courts, Heuser and Duong are up to a 24-5 overall record on the season, which includes a 16-3 mark in dual play.
Illini vs. The Field
Illinois is 33-27 against Iowa all-time. Illinois did fall 4-1 in its most recent meeting against the Hawkeyes.
Illinois trails Indiana 17-34 all-time, but the Illini won their last match up against the Hoosiers in dominant fashion with a 7-0 victory.
Illini Notes
Illinois was ranked No. 36 in the last regular season ranking by ITA
Head coach Evan Clark is in his eighth year as the head coach of Illinois women’s tennis and holds an overall dual record of 114-75 (.603) and is 58-28 (.674) in Big Ten play during his time as an Illini.
The Illini are coming off a 16-9 season with an 8-3 Big Ten record in 2021-22.
Illinois returns seven of its eight players from last season, including seniors Emily Casati, Josie Frazier, and Ashley Yeah; junior Kate Duong; and sophomores Kida Ferrari, Megan Heuser, and Kasia Treiber. The Illini also welcomed freshman Violeta Martinez to the squad.
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