Friday, 03/30/2012

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin women’s tennis team came up empty in a 7-0 shutout loss to No. 21  Illinois Friday night at Nielsen Tennis Stadium.

For the second time in less than a week, UW was swept by a top-25 Big Ten opponent, having also suffered a 7-0 setback against Michigan on March 24. The loss to Illinois puts the Badgers at 10-6 overall and 1-3 in the Big Ten, while the Fighting Illini improve to 11-5 overall and 3-1 in league play.

UW was unable to get past Illinois’ doubles teams, dropping the doubles point for just the fifth time this season.

At No. 2, Sophomore Nicky Stracar and freshman Nova Patel came close to taking down the Illini duo of Amy Allin and Rachel White, but were unable to prevail in a tiebreak, dropping an 8-7 (6) decision.

Pairing up at the No. 1 spot, junior Hannah Berner and senior Alaina Trgovich were defeated by Marisa Lambropoulos and Melissa Kopinski, 8-5.

Seniors Angela Chupa and Aleksandra Markovic were topped, 8-4, by Chelcie Abajian and Allison Falkin.

Despite forcing three singles matches to three sets, UW could not find any answers to slow down the Fighting Illini attack.

Stracar was the first Badger to suffer defeat in singles, dropping a 6-2, 6-2 decision to No. 124 Melissa Kopinski at the No. 2 slot.

The Fighting Illini jumped out to a 3-0 lead after Misia Kedzierski defeated Chupa at court six. Kedzierski raced to a 5-0 lead in the first set, before Chupa battled back to take the next three games. The Illini regained control, however, finishing off the Badger senior, 6-3, 6-0.

Things started looking more promising for UW, as three of the next four matches went to three sets.

Freshman Sarah Loebel claimed a 5-4 advantage in a first set battle with Amy Allin at No. 4. Allin forced the first set to a tiebreak and came out on top. Loebel could only get one game in the second set, losing 7-6 (0), 6-1.

Patel lost the first set, before digging out a 7-5 second-set victory. In the end, Patel was unable to get past White at court five, falling, 6-2, 5-7, 6-1.

After being shutout, 6-0, in the first set at No.1, Trgovich came back to take the second set, 6-3. In a close third set, Falkin came out on top, 6-4.

At No. 3, Berner was the only Badger to record a victory in the first set. The Badger junior, however, could not hold off Lambropoulos , losing, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5.

The Badgers return to Nielsen Tennis Stadium on Sunday for a 12 p.m. matchup with No. 15 Northwestern.

Final Results:

No. 21 Illinois-7 Wisconsin-0

Doubles:
1.). Marisa Lambropoulos/ Melissa Kopinski(Ill.) def. Hannah Berner/ Alaina Trgovich (UW), 8-5
2.) Amy Allin/ Rachel White (Ill.) def. Nicky Stracar/ Nova Patel (UW), 8-7 (6)
3.) Chelcie Abajian/ Allison Falkin (Ill.) def. Angela Chupa/ Aleksandra Markovic (UW), 8-4

Order of finish:
1, 3, 2

Singles:
1.) Allison Falkin (Ill.) def. Alaina Trgovich (UW), 6-0, 3-6, 6-4
2.) No. 124 Melissa Kopinski (Ill.) def. Nicky Stracar (UW), 6-2, 6-2
3.) Marisa Lambropoulos (Ill.) def. Hannah Berner (UW), 3-6, 6-3, 7-5
4.) Amy Allin (Ill.) def. Sarah Loebel (UW), 7-6, 6-1
5.) Rachel White (Ill.)def. Nova Patel (UW), 6-2, 5-7, 6-1
6.) Misia Kedzierski (Ill.) def. Angela Chupa (UW), 6-3, 6-0

Order of finish:
2, 6, 4, 5, 1, 2