Ohio State
Illinois
No. 5 Buckeyes Down Illinois 7-0, Improve to 8-0 in B1G – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/15/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
April 15, 2016
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 5-ranked Ohio State women’s tennis team swept No. 48 Illinois, 7-0, to remain undefeated in the Big Ten this spring with an 8-0 ledger. The Buckeyes, who have posted shutout wins in each of their last seven matches, improve to 22-2 on the year. The Fighting Illini fall to 12-7 and 6-2 in conference play.
The Buckeyes gained the 1-0 advantage going into singles after posting doubles wins on courts one and two. The Scarlet and Gray notched five straight set wins in singles, along with a super tiebreaker victory, to shut out Illinois. Juniors Miho Kowase and Sandy Niehuas and sophomore Anna Sanford all posted singles and doubles victories against Illinois.
“We played really well today,” Melissa Schaub, Ohio State head coach, said. “Illinois was a very good team. We were prepared and have girls that are playing really well. They stepped up today and we were able to put out a good performance.”
The Buckeyes wrap up the weekend and their regular season home schedule at noon Sunday when they host No. 40 Northwestern on Senior Day with seniors Nicole Flower and Grainne O’Neill recognized before the match. The teams are scheduled to meet at the outdoor Varsity Tennis Courts.
In doubles, the No. 7-ranked duo of Sanford and Kowase easily defeated the No. 40-ranked pair of Louise Kwong and Ines Vias on court one, 6-2, improving to 22-6 overall and 14-4 in the spring. The tandem of Niehaus and junior Gabriella De Santis notched a victory on court two over junior Madie Ballion and junior Jerricka Boone, 6-4, to clinch the doubles point for the Scarlet and Gray. Niehaus and De Santis have won their last six matches. In a close match, sophomore Olivia Sneed and freshman Francesca Di Lorenzo fell to Daniela Pedraza Novak and Jaclyn Switkes, 7-5. The loss was just the second for the Buckeye tandem this spring, as they are now 20-2.
No. 103-ranked Sanford notched the first singles victory for the Buckeyes against Illinois with a 6-1, 6-2, win over junior Alexis Casati on court two. No. 3 Di Lorenzo posted the second win for the Scarlet and Gray shortly after with a 6-2, 6-0, victory over No. 113 Kwong on court one, moving her singles record to 28-4 overall and 19-3 in dual matches with her seventh win in a row. No. 107 Sneed secured the Buckeye victory after posting a 6-2, 6-2, win on court six over Switkes.
Junior Ferny Angeles Paz notched the next win for Ohio State, prevailing 6-1, 6-1, over Boone on court five, marking her 12th consecutive victory. After dropping the second set, No. 74 Niehaus handily won the super tiebreaker over Madie Ballion on court four, 6-4, 2-6, 1-0 (4), notching her ninth win in a row. Kowase posted a 6-1, 6-3 win over Vias to clinch the shutout for the Buckeyes and extend her winning streak to 14.
The Buckeyes have not allowed a team point in Big Ten matches this season, going 47-0 in singles and 20-3 in doubles, with seven 7-0 wins and a 6-0 victory.
Illinois vs Ohio State
Apr 15, 2016 at Columbus, Ohio
(Varsity Tennis Courts)
#5 Ohio State 7, #48 Illinois 0
Singles competition
1. #3 Francesca Di Lorenzo (OSU) def. #113 Louise Kwong (ILL) 6-2, 6-0
2. #103 Anna Sanford (OSU) def. Alexis Casati (ILL) 6-1, 6-2
3. Miho Kowase (OSU) def. Ines Vias (ILL) 6-1, 6-3
4. #74 Sandy Niehaus (OSU) def. Madie Baillon (ILL) 6-4, 2-6, 1-0 (10-4)
5. Ferny Angeles Paz (OSU) def. Jerricka Boone (ILL) 6-1, 6-1
6. #107 Olivia Sneed (OSU) def. Jaclyn Switkes (ILL) 6-2, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. #7 Anna Sanford/Miho Kowase (OSU) def. #40 Louise Kwong/Ines Vias (ILL) 6-2
2. Gabriella De Santis/Sandy Niehaus (OSU) def. Madie Baillon/Jerricka Boone (ILL) 6-4
3. Daniela PedrazaNovak/Jaclyn Switkes (ILL) def. Olivia Sneed/Francesca Di Lorenzo (OSU) 7-5
Match Notes:
Illinois 12-7, 6-2 B1G; National ranking #48
Ohio State 22-2, 8-0 B1G; National ranking #5
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (2,1,6,5,4,3)
T-2:15 A-107
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
1,2,3
#1 Singles Match
#2 Singles Match
#3 Singles Match
#4 Singles Match
#5 Singles Match
#6 Singles Match
Order of Finish:
2,1,6,5,4,3
