DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Illinois
#35 DePaul Comes Up Short at #28 Illinois
2/4/2011 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S TENNIS
Feb. 4, 2011
URBANA, Ill. - Playing its third ranked team in eight days, the No. 35 DePaul women's tennis team battled with No. 28 Illinois, but fell short as the Illini topped the Blue Demons 5-2 on Friday at the Atkins Tennis Center.
Illinois (2-3) swept the doubles point which put the match's momentum in favor of the Illini.
Illinois jumped out to a 3-0 advantage with wins on the sixth and fifth singles courts, but the Blue Demons did not back down and battled for every point on the remaining four courts.
Gia McKnight put DePaul (2-3) on the board with a 6-0, 7-6 (7-3) win over Chelcie Abajian in the third position.
After dropping the first set, 6-2 to No. 100 Rachael White, Blue Demon senior Selma Salkovic went at White and evened the match at one with a 6-3 set-two win in the second position. Salkovic and White traded points in the third set, but it was White who took the final set 6-3 which clinched the victory for the Illini.
Katarina Milinkovic won her 83rd singles match of her career and fourth in the top spot this season with a 6-1, 5-7, 1-0 (10-1) win over Breanne Smutko.
DePaul returns to action on Sunday and hosts BIG EAST Conference opponent Louisville at the Lakeshore Athletic Club. The first serve is scheduled for 1 p.m.
#28 Illinois 5, #35 DePaul 2
Doubles
No. 1. #15 Rachael White/Allison Falkin (ILL) def. Gia McKnight/Katarina Milinkovic (DPU) 8-0
No. 2. Breanne Smutko/Chelcie Abajian (ILL) def. Kelsey Lawson/Selma Salkovic (DPU) 8-3
No. 3. Marisa Lambropoulos/Amy Allin (ILL) def. Cali Gustafson/Christiana Raymond (DPU) 8-4
Order of Finish: 1, 2, 3
Singles
No. 1. Katarina Milinkovic (DPU) def. Breanne Smutko (ILL) 6-1, 5-7, 1-0 (10-1)
No. 2. #100 Rachael White (ILL) def. Selma Salkovic (DPU) 6-2, 3-6, 6-3
No. 3. Gia McKnight (DPU) def. Chelcie Abajian (ILL) 6-0, 7-6 (7-3)
No. 4. Amy Allin (ILL) def. Christiana Raymond (DPU) 6-4, 7-5
No. 5. Marisa Lambropoulos (ILL) def. Kelsey Lawson (DPU) 6-1, 6-2
No. 6. Allison Falkin (ILL) def. Cali Gustafson (DPU) 6-4, 6-1
Order of Finish: 6, 5, 3, 2*, 4, 1
* Clinched the Match
