Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Illinois
Northwestern Topped by Fighting Illini
4/4/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
April 4, 2004
CHAMPAIGN, Ill.--Northwestern's seventh-ranked women's tennis team suffered its first Big Ten loss of the season today when it was defeated 4-3 by No. 24 Illinois at Atkins Tennis Center.
The Wildcats (13-4, 3-1 Big Ten) were surprised early in the match with two losses in doubles. Andrea Yung (San Marino, Calif./San Marino) and Ruth Barnes (Cambridge, England/Hills Road Sixth Form College) prevented the sweep by routing Emily Wang and Brianna Knue 8-2 at No. 3.
"I do not always think doubles is the most important point," said head coach Claire Pollard, "But it turned out to be critical today."
Singles proved just as difficult, with the only NU wins coming at Nos. 1, 4 and 5. Third-ranked Cristelle Grier (Surrey, England/Epsom) led the charge by breezing past No. 34 Jennifer McGaffigan 6-1, 6-3 at the top of the lineup. The win was the sophomore's team-leading 26th and her eighth straight.
Yung, at the fifth spot, chipped in a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Knue, and Jamie Peisel (Savannah, Ga./Savannah Country Day) followed with a 7-6 (1), 7-6 (6) effort against Isabel Jarosz for NU's third point.
Unfortunately for Northwestern, the Fighting Illini (13-3, 4-1) took the remaining matches to extend their number of consecutive wins to seven.
"I thought overall Illinois played unbelievably well," said Pollard. "They did not give up any easy points."
The 'Cats return home this weekend to Combe Tennis Center, where they will play host to Minnesota at noon April 10 and Iowa at 11 a.m. April 11.
No. 24 Illinois 4, No. 7 Northwestern 3
Singles
No. 1 -- #3 Cristelle Grier (NU) def. #34 Jennifer McGaffigan (UI), 6-1, 6-3
No. 2 -- Tiffany Eklov (UI) def. #38 Jessica Rush (NU), 6-0, 6-3
No. 3 -- Cynthya Goulet (UI) def. Alexis Prousis (NU), 7-5, 3-6, 6-0
No. 4 -- Jamie Peisel (NU) def. Isabel Jarosz (UI), 7-6 (1), 7-6 (6)
No. 5 -- Andrea Yung (NU) def. Brianna Knue (UI), 6-1, 6-3
No. 6 -- Eva Choe (UI) def. Ruth Barnes (NU), 7-5, 6-1
Doubles
No. 1 -- #9 Jennifer McGaffigan/Cynthya Goulet (UI) def. #2 Cristelle Grier/Jessica Rush (NU), 8-3
No. 2 -- Tiffany Eklov/Isabel Jarosz (UI) def. Alexis Prousis/Jamie Peisel (NU), 8-6
No. 3 -- Andrea Yung/Ruth Barnes (NU) def. Emily Wang/Brianna Knue (UI), 8-2
