URBANA, Ill. – Fighting Illini women's tennis added to its active win streak against Northwestern, earning a 4-3 victory over the Wildcats from Atkins Tennis Center on Saturday. Head coach Evan Clark and company have now won the last eight outings against the in-state Big Ten foe.
After Northwestern claimed the doubles point, Illinois secured all four points on the singles courts for the second time this season to earn the win. Illini sophomore Ariel Madatali clinched the victory while McKenna Schaefbauer, Kimiko Cooper, and Alice Xu each earned a win on the day.
Illinois improved to 6-7 on the season and 2-1 in Big Ten play. The Illini are now even at 4-4 on the season when playing in Atkins Tennis Center. With the loss, Northwestern is now 8-6 on the campaign and 1-2 in Big Ten outings.
Northwestern was first off the doubles courts with a 6-1 win at No. 3. Illinois followed with a 6-2 ranked-win by Ariel Madatali and Cara Mester at No. 2 doubles. The Illini tandem downed Northwestern's No. 77-ranked duo to improve to 3-5 on the dual season and 2-1 in Big Ten play when teaming up. In a ranked vs. ranked matchup on the top doubles court, Illinois' duo of Tess Bucher and Alice Xu battled back from down 5-2 to up 6-5 before falling in the breaker 7-3.
With Northwestern taking the doubles point, Illinois got things going quickly, taking five of the first sets in singles play. The Wildcats responded by taking all six second sets of action.
With a straight-set decision at No. 4, NU pushed its lead to 2-0 on the match.
McKenna Schaefbauer's ranked win at No. 1 singles put the Illini on the board as the senior earned a three-set 6-2, 5-7, 6-1 decision over Northwestern's No. 69-ranked player. Schaefbauer improved to 17-7 overall on the season, 8-3 in dual play, and 2-1 in Big Ten matches with Saturday's victory.
Northwestern answered back and pushed ahead 3-1 on the match with a three-set win at No. 6. Moments later, Kimiko Cooper closed out her 6-0, 3-6, 6-1 victory at No. 2 to bring the team score to 3-2. Cooper improved to 6-5 on the season and 2-0 in conference play with the win.
Alice Xu's win at No. 5 singles pulled the Illini even in the match at 3-3. Xu earned a 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 victory to improve to 6-4 overall, 5-2 in dual matches, and 2-0 in Big Ten play.
Illinois' only lead of the match came with the final 4-3 margin as Ariel Madatali secured her second clinch of the season for the Fighting Illini. After a back-and-forth opening set at No. 3 singles, Madatali won the final two games for the 6-4 first-set win. Her counterpart evened things up after claiming set two. The sides were all square at 5-5 in set three when Madatali got the final say and secured the 7-5 decision with a break.Â
With the win, Madatali climbed to 12-9 overall on the campaign, 5-4 in dual play, and 1-1 in Big Ten action.
The Orange and Blue would ultimately win four of the five third sets on the day to secure the victory.
NEXT UP
Next weekend, Illinois is slated to host Purdue and Indiana on Saturday, March 21, and Sunday, March 22, respectively. Both matches will begin at 12 p.m.
ILLINOIS (6-7, 2-1) 4, NORTHWESTERN (8-6, 1-2) 3
Doubles:
1 - No. 87 Jessel/Phanthala (NW) def. No. 86 Tess Bucher/Alice Xu (Illinois) - 7-6(3)
2 - Ariel Madatali/Cara Mester (Illinois) def. No. 77 Feldman/Dagan Fruchtman (NW) - 6-2
3 - Loureiro/Raath (NW) def. McKenna Schaefbauer/Kimiko Cooper (Illinois) - 6-1
Order of finish: 3, 2, 1
Singles:Â
1 - No. 34 McKenna Schaefbauer (Illinois) def. No. 69 Margot Phanthala (NW) - 6-2, 5-7, 6-1
2 - Kimiko Cooper (Illinois) def. Autumn Rabjohns (NW) - 6-0, 3-6, 6-1Â
3 - Ariel Madatali (Illinois) def. Maia Loureiro (NW) - 6-4, 2-6, 7-5
4 - Mika Dagan Fruchtman (NW) def. Tess Bucher (Illinois) - 6-3, 6-1
5 - Alice Xu (Illinois) def. Marelie Raath (NW) - 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
6 - Erica Jessel (NW) def. Cara Mester (Illinois) - 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
Order of finish: 4, 1, 6, 2, 5, 3
Duration: 3:48
Attendance: 89
