Ohio State
Illinois
No. 22 Buckeyes Notch B1G Road Win at Illinois, 6-1 – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
March 8, 2015
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The 22nd-ranked Ohio State women’s tennis team notched its first B1G road win of the spring campaign, downing No. 37 Illinois, 6-1, Sunday afternoon in Urbana, Ill. The Buckeyes improve to 8-4 overall and 2-0 in conference play after defeating Northwestern at home, 6-1, Friday. Against the Illini, the Buckeyes captured the doubles point and then won five of six singles matches, including four three-set victories.
“It was an absolute team effort this entire weekend,” Melissa Schaub, Ohio State head coach, said. “These Buckeyes fight so hard for each other every time they step on the court. As coaches, we could not be happier with where we are right now as a team.”
Ohio State asserted its dominance early, taking a 1-0 lead with wins on courts two and three in doubles play. Junior Grainne O’Neill and freshman Anna Sanford collected an 8-5 win on court three vs. Jerricka Boone and Grace Tapak, while the sophomore tandem of Ferny Angeles Paz and Miho Kowase cruised to an 8-1 victory at No. 2. The Buckeyes’ 24th-ranked tandem of Gabreilla De Santis and Sandy Niehaus led 6-5 vs. Melissa Kopinski and Louise Kwong when play was suspended.
The Buckeyes carried the momentum into singles competition, claiming one straight-set victory and four three-set wins to top Illinois. Niehaus posted a 6-1, 6-3, victory on court three to give Ohio State a 2-0 advantage vs. the Illini. Sanford fell to Alexis Casati 6-1, 6-3 at No. 2 and the Buckeyes never looked back winning the next four matches off the court in three sets.
O’Neill responded with a three-set victory vs. Boone, 6-2, 4-6, 6-1, on court six to push the Buckeyes ahead, 3-1. De Santis clinched the Buckeye win on court one, coming back from a set down to defeat Kopinski, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 and improve to 3-0 at No. 1 singles this spring. After dropping the first set vs. their opponents, Kowase and Angeles Paz battled back to win on courts four and five as the Scarlet and Gray claimed a 6-1 victory vs. Illinois and their fifth victory vs. a ranked opponent this spring.
Up next, the Buckeyes return to action at the Varsity Tennis Center in Columbus, Ohio, when they host Penn State noon Saturday. Ohio State has won 15 of its last 16 matches at home.
Ohio State vs Illinois
Mar 08, 2015 at Urbana, Ill.
(Atkins Tennis Center)
#22 Ohio State 6, #37 Illinois 1
Singles competition
1. Gabriella De Santis (OSU) def. Melissa Kopinski (ILL) 4-6, 6-2, 6-4
2. Alexis Casati (ILL) def. Anna Sanford (OSU) 6-4, 6-3
3. Sandy Niehaus (OSU) def. Louise Kwong (ILL) 6-1, 6-3
4. Miho Kowase (OSU) def. Madie Baillon (ILL) 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
5. Ferny Angeles Paz (OSU) def. Grace Tapak (ILL) 4-6, 6-0, 6-3
6. Grainne O’Neill (OSU) def. Jerricka Boone (ILL) 6-2, 4-6, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Melissa Kopinski/Louise Kwong (ILL) vs. #24 Gabriella De Santis/Sandy Niehaus (OSU) 5-6, unfinished
2. Ferny Angeles Paz/Miho Kowase (OSU) def. Alexis Casati/Madie Baillon (ILL) 8-1
3. Grainne O’Neill/Anna Sanford (OSU) def. Jerricka Boone/Grace Tapak (ILL) 8-5
Match Notes: Ohio State 8-4 (2-0 B1G); National ranking #22
Illinois 6-4 (0-2 B1G); National ranking #37
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (3,2,6,1,4,5)
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
2,3
#1 Singles Match
#2 Singles Match
#3 Singles Match
#4 Singles Match
#5 Singles Match
#6 Singles Match
Order of Finish:
3,2,6,1,4,5
