Michigan State University
Illinois
Women's Tennis Falls To Illinois, 5-2
4/9/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
April 9, 2005
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The No. 62 Michigan State women's team dropped a 5-2 match to No. 53 Illinois on Saturday, April 9 at the Atkins Tennis Center. Illinois improves to 4-1 in the Big Ten and 10-6 overall as the Spartans drop to 1-5 and 11-7.
The Fighting Illini took a 1-0 lead on the Spartans by claiming all doubles matches. Things started to brighten for the Spartans as four players clinched first-set victories in singles. But only two of those players went on to win their singles matches as Illinois rolled up four singles victories.
Sophomores Jessica Baron (Miami, Fla.) and Sarah Andrews (Darwin, Australia) grabbed the Spartans' only points of the day with straight-set victories at No. 5 and 6, respectively. Baron defeated UI's Pavlina Akritas, 6-0, 6-2, as Andrews battled it out with Emily Wang for a 7-5, 6-1 win for MSU. The two Spartans also paired up at No. 2 doubles for the third time this season but were defeated by Macall Harkins and Brianna Knue, 8-1.
At No. 1, senior Keri Thompson (Clark Lake, Mich.), currently ranked No. 121, passed by No. 41 Cynthya Goulet, 6-3 in the first set, but Goulet returned in the second with a 6-2 victory sending the match into a third where Goulet claimed a 6-1 victory over Thompson to remain undefeated in Big Ten action.
At No. 2, freshman powerhouse Christine Bader (Okemos, Mich.) quickly took over Illinois' Harkins in the first set with a 6-4 win. Despite strong efforts by Bader, Harkins grabbed the second set, 7-5, and the third, 6-2, taking the match over Bader.
Michigan State will continue action on the road as it travels to No. 68 Purdue for a noon match-up on Sunday (April 10).
Final Results
#53 Illinois 5, #62 Michigan State 2Singles competition:1. #41 Cynthya Goulet (ILL) def. #121 Keri Thompson (MSU) 3-6, 6-2, 6-12. Macall Harkins (ILL) def. Christine Bader (MSU) 4-6, 7-5, 6-23. Momei Qu (ILL) def. Pascale Schnitzer (MSU) 6-3, 7-64. Brianna Knue (ILL) def. Shelley Brady (MSU) 6-0, 6-25. Jessica Baron (MSU) def. Pavilina Akritas (ILL) 6-0, 6-26. Sarah Andrews (MSU) def. Emily Wang (ILL) 7-5, 6-1
Doubles competition:1. Cynthya Goulet/Emily Wang (ILL) def. Christine Bader/Keri Thompson (MSU) 8-42. Macall Harkins/Brianna Knue (ILL) def. Sarah Andrews/Jessica Baron (MSU) 8-13. Pavilina Akritas/Momei Qu (ILL) def. Karen Gustafson/Pascale Schnitzer (MSU) 8-0
Match Notes:Michigan State 1-5, 11-7; National ranking #62Illinois 4-1, 10-6; National ranking #53
Players Mentioned
