Northwestern Finds Win Column Against Illinois, 5-2

3/10/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis

March 10, 2012

Results

Site: Urbana, Ill. (Atkins Tennis Center)
Score: No. 14 Northwestern 5, No. 45 Illinois 2
Records: NU (6-6, 1-0 Big Ten), Illinois (6-5, 0-1 Big Ten)
Next NU Event: March 21 -- vs. No. 46 DePaul (Charleston, S.C.), 10 a.m. CDT

URBANA, Ill. -- As Big Ten play began Saturday night, the 14th-ranked Northwestern Wildcats were able to get back to their winning ways as they knocked off instate rival Illinois at the Atkins Tennis Center in Urbana, Ill., 5-2.

For the Wildcats, it was their 11th straight triumph over their orange-and-blue-clad rivals from downstate dating back to April 4, 2005. Northwestern improved to 45-7 all-time against Illinois and 18-3 under the direction of head coach Claire Pollard.

Northwestern jumped all over the Illini early and secured the coveted doubles tally. Linda Abu Mushrefova and Nida Hamilton, ranked fourth in the country according to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) earned their first win together since Feb. 24 when they took down No. 40 Allison Falkin and Rachael White, 8-2.

Kate Turvy and Belinda Niu, who together are 6-0 this season as a tandem, continued their winning ways as they finished second to clinch the point. Turvy and Niu disposed of Marisa Lambropoulos and Misia Kedzierski in dominant fashion, 8-1. It was the first time this season that Turvy and Niu played No. 2 with the six previous triumphs coming on the third line.

Though the doubles point had already been awarded, Illinois' third pairing of Breanne Smutko and Melissa Kopinski were able to salvage a win against Northwestern's Brittany Wowchuk and Veronica Corning at No. 3 by a score of 8-4.

When singles play began it was Corning who earned her first-ever Big Ten win and the second point of the evening for the 'Cats. The transfer from Boston College ran through her opponent at No. 4, White, in straight sets, 6-2 and 6-1. The victory is the fourth of the spring in singles play for Corning.

Stacey Lee, who was inserted into the singles lineup for the second straight match, brought home the third point for Northwestern. The lone senior in action for the Wildcats, Lee got the best of Kedzierski in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3. It was the first win in three matches for the senior this spring and the 24th win of her career in conference play.

The match-clinching point was delivered soon after off the racket of Northwestern's 20th-ranked junior, Turvy. The Ohio native was able to defeat Lambropoulos in straight sete by identical 6-3 scores to claim the victory and seal her team's 11th straight win over Illinois. Falkin was able to earn the first point of the night for Illinois with her win over Wowchuk at No. 2 singles. Falkin, No. 96, won a tight first set, 7-6 before sealing the win with a 6-2 triumph over No. 51 Wowchuk.

Two singles matches went to decisive third sets at Atkins. The first one went the way of the home team. After dropping the first set to Kopinski, Niu rallied back to even things up with a 6-3 triumph in the second. Kopinski got the best of the NU sophomore in the third, however, winning, 6-4, which was the same score as her first-set win.

Abu Mushrefova was victorious in the final match of the evening for the Wildcats. The junior won her first set, 6-4, before falling by the score in the second stanza. Abu Mushrefova was able to polish off Amy Allin in the final frame, 6-2.

The Wildcats will be idle for approximately 10 days before heading to Charleston, S.C. for a neutral site match against No. 46 DePaul. That contest is slated to begin at 10 a.m. Central time. NU will return home to Evanston on March 24 when it continues Big Ten play by welcoming the Iowa Hawkeyes to town.

Doubles
1. No. 4 Linda Abu Mushrefova/Nida Hamilton (NU) def. No. 40 Allison Falkin/Rachael White (ILL) - 8-2
2. Belinda Niu/Kate Turvy (NU) def. Marisa Lambropoulos/Misia Kedzierski (ILL) - 8-1
3. Breanne Smutko/Melissa Kopinski (ILL) def. Brittany Wowchuk/Veronica Corning (NU) - 8-4
Order of finish: 1, 2*, 3

Singles
1. No. 20 Kate Turvy (NU) def. Marisa Lambropoulos (ILL) - 6-3, 6-3
2. No. 96 Allison Falkin (ILL) def. No. 51 Brittany Wowchuk (NU) - 7-6, 6-2
3. Melissa Kopinski (ILL) def. No. 118 Belinda Niu (NU) - 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
4. Veronica Corning (NU) def. Rachael White (ILL) - 6-2, 6-1
5. Linda Abu Mushrefova (NU) def. Amy Allin (ILL) - 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
6. Stacey Lee (NU) def. Misia Kedzierski (ILL) - 6-2, 6-3
Order of finish: 4, 6, 1*, 2, 3, 5

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