URBANA, Ill. — The University of Iowa women’s tennis team put up a fight against Illinois but fell 4-3 on Saturday inside Atkins Tennis Center. The Hawkeyes are now 6-3 in the Big Ten Conference.
The Hawkeyes started out on top earning the doubles point. Iowa’s Danielle Burich and Michelle Bacalla defeated Illinois’ Ashley Yeah and Kate Duong 6-2 at the No. 3 spot. Alexa Noel and Samantha Mannix clinched the doubles point at the No. 1 spot, defeating Asuka Kawa and Josie Frazier, 7-5. Samantha Gillas and Elise van Huevelen were in a head-to-head battle against Emilee Duong and Sasha Belaya at the No. 2 spot but went unfinished.
The Fighting Illini opened singles with the first win at the No. 6 spot. Josie Frazier won in straight sets defeating Danielle Bauers, 6-0, 6-2. No. 97 Alexa Noel brought momentum back to Iowa, defeating Illinois’ Asuka Kawai at the No. 1 spot, 6-2, 6-1. Noel is now 15-0 in singles.
Illinois went on a two-game win streak to clinch the match at the No. 2 and No. 5 spots. Elise van Heuvelen fell to Kate Duong 6-4, 6-3 at the No. 2 spot. Vipasha Mehra battled back in the second set, but fell to Illinois’ Ashley Yeah 6-2, 7-5 at the No. 5 spot to give Illinois a 3-2 lead.
Junior Samantha Gillas went back and forth against Sasha Belaya at the No. 4 spot. The first set ended 7-6 (7-1), and Gillas took the second set 6-2 to tie the match up at 3. Illinois’ Emilee Duong defeated Samantha Mannix in a nail biting match, 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 6-1 at the No. 3 spot to clinch the victory for Illinois.