Women's Tennis Falls 4-3 to Illini

BOULDER - The Colorado women's tennis team dropped its first match of the spring season, 4-3 to No. 45 Illinois, Sunday morning at the Millennium Harvest House tennis bubble.

Colorado took an early 1-0 lead by securing the doubles point, winning two of three matches. Morgan Sall and Kendra Strandemo teamed up for an 8-3 win at No. 2 doubles along with Sarah Burrows and Jessica Vanderdys, 8-4 at No. 3.

The Illini quickly evened the match and subsequently took the lead dominating the top three singles positions along with the number sixth position for a 4-1 advantage. The Buffaloes narrowed its deficit taking singles slots, No. 4 and No. 5 with Lia Dimingo and Strandemo each winning in straight sets.

"Today was a very close match," said CU head coach Nicole Kenneally. "It was disappointing to lose, but we took many positives out of this weekend and this match. We competed with two top national teams, went 1-1 and close to going 2-0. We look forward to continuing to work hard and look forward to our upcoming matches."

On Friday, CU surprised No. 34 Oregon, 4-3.

Colorado (2-1) travels to Colorado Springs this Saturday, Feb. 1 to take on the United States Air Force Academy beginning at noon.

No. 45 Illinois 4, Colorado 3

Doubles: 1) McGaffigan/Webb (Ill.) def. Lemperle/Dimingo, 9-7; 2) Sall/Strandemo def. Fazlic/Eklov (Ill.), 8-3; 3) Burrows/Vanderdys def. Choe/Leila Cehajic (Ill.), 8-4.

Singles: 1) Jenny McGaffigan (Ill.) def. Katherine Lutgert, 6-1, 6-0; 2) Tiffany Eklov (Ill.) def. Dominique Lemperle, 6-4, 6-4; 3) Eldina Fazlic (Ill.) def. Jessica Vanderdys, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3; 4) Lia Dimingo def. Michele Webb, 6-4, 6-2; 5) Kendra Strandemo def. Eva Chloe, 6-0, 6-2; 6) Brianna Knue def. Sarah Burrows, 6-4, 6-0.