Stephen F. Austin
Illinois
SFA Drops Heartbreaker to No. 69 Illinois
1/13/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Jan. 13, 2012
Despite pulling the biggest doubles' upset in program history, the Stephen F. Austin women's tennis team fell short against No. 69 Illinois, 5-2. The heartbreaking setback dropped SFA to 1-1 (.500) on the season.
"Illinois is a very good team and were just a little too much for us today," said head coach Patrick Sullivan. "They are known for being a very tough doubles team and I was pleased that we were right there with them and had chances to win the doubles point. After the tough doubles loss we came out a little flat in singles and lost every first set but I was proud of the way we were able to battle back and either win or make it tight on four of the six courts."
SFA had its chances to take the first lead of the match during doubles play. After recording a split at Nos. 2 and 3 doubles, the SFA duo of Tereza Bekerova and Malena Gordo had a 7-5 lead over Illinois' Rachael White and Allison Falkin at No. 1 doubles, but the Illini rallied for the 9-8 victory. Despite losing the doubles point, the 'Jacks recorded one of the biggest doubles' upsets in program history when senior Alina Shazhko and freshman Jithmie Jayawickrema recorded a an 8-7 (7-5) victory over the Illini's No. 27-ranked Chelcie Albajian and Bre Smutko.
Bekerova experienced similar frustration in singles play. After dropping the first set, Bekerova battled back to take a 4-1 lead in the third, but couldn't hold the momentum. Illinois' Marisa Lambropoulous rallied for the 7-6 (7-1), 3-6, 7-6 (7-2) win.
The two setbacks would prove damaging in the `Jacks' upset bid as it was the difference in the match. SFA kept things close picking up their first victory of the day when freshman Elena Kordolaimi posted a 2-6, 7-5, 7-5 win over the Illini's Melissa Kopinski at No. 3 singles. Classmate Antonia Kolovou followed up with a three-set victory at No. 5 singles over 2011 first-team All-Big 10 selection Rachael White, but SFA was unable to pick up another point in the setback.
Despite having to dig themselves out of an early hole in a match that lasted nearly five hours, the 'Jacks' roster of five freshmen and one senior fought back and gave itself a chance to pull off the stunner against a team that was ranked among the nation's top 25 last season. SFA had match points at No. 1 doubles, and was up three games in the third set at No. 1 singles before the Illini rallied for the win.
"I am proud and encouraged by the fight we showed in this loss. We are a very young and tough losses are part of the learning process but like I told the team, fighting hard and losing to a worthy opponent puts us miles ahead of where we would be after an easy win," added Sullivan.
The `Jacks return to action Saturday when they open play in the FGCU Hilton Garden Inn in Fort Myers, Fla.
-SFA-
