TUCSON, Ariz. – No. 35 Illinois women’s tennis split its matches against No. 57 Arizona and New Meixco State at the LaNelle Robson Tennis Center in Tucson, Arizona, on Tuesday, improving to 10-5 in the team’s final non-conference competition of the regular season.
The tandem of Kate Duong and Megan Heuser went 2-0 in doubles play on the day, coming away with wins on court 1 over both the Wildcats and Aggies in dominant fashion before taking care of business in singles action.
The day started against Arizona, the team’s second dual matchup against the Wildcats this season. After dropping the doubles point despite a Duong/Heuser victory on court 1, the Illini battled in singles, ultimately falling in three consecutive decisions on courts 5, 2, and 4 in a 4-0 defeat. Duong, Heuser, and Kida Ferrari all bounced back from first-set losses to take their respective second sets, though their respective matches all went unfinished.
Illinois took care of business soon after, closing its day with a dominant 5-0 victory over New Mexico State.
The Illini set the tone early, securing the doubles point behind a 6-2 win on court 1 from Duong and Heuser and a 6-4 victory on court 3 from Ashley Yeah and Emily Casati. Duong and Heuser extended their doubles winning streak to nine consecutive decisions.
In singles play, Heuser extended the Illinois advantage with a two-set victory on court 3 before Duong pushed the Illini lead to 3-0 with a 6-4, 6-0 decision on court 1. No. 100 Yeah and Violeta Martinez clinched their matches simultaneously on courts 2 and 6, respectively, to secure the 5-0 Illinois victory. The Illini won all six of their first sets in singles play, with Josie Frazier and Kasia Treiber leading their respective matches before they ultimately went unfinished.
The Illini resume Big Ten play on March 26, traveling to West Lafayette to take on No. 37 Purdue.
FULL RESULTS: NO. 57 ARIZONA 4, NO. 35 ILLINOIS 0
Doubles:
No. 1 – No. 30 Kate Duong/Megan Heuser def. Carter/Friedman – 6-2
No. 2 – Wilkins/Fry def. Josie Frazier/ Violeta Martinez – 6-0
No. 3 – Nevenhoven/Castillo-Meza def. Ashley Yeah/Emily Casati – 6-3
Singles:
No. 1 – Kate Duong vs. Salma Ziouti (Arizona) – 3-6, 6-4, 2-3 unfinished
No. 2 – Reece Carter (Arizona) def. No. 100 Ashley Yeah – 7-6 (5), 6-3
No. 3…
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