Alice Xu clinched her first match of the season for the University of Illinois Fighting Illini women’s tennis team on March 21 as Illinois defeated No. 61 Purdue with a score of 4-1. The match was played outdoors at the Atkins Tennis Center in Urbana.
The result brings Illinois to a 7-7 overall record and a 3-1 mark in Big Ten Conference play, while Purdue moves to 6-6 overall and 2-2 in conference matches. The Fighting Illini compete in NCAA Division I and are part of the Big Ten Conference, according to the official website.
Illinois secured the doubles point by changing up its lineup, pairing Cara Mester with Alice Xu and Kimiko Cooper with Ariel Madatali. Both new pairings won their matches after being tied at four games each, giving Illinois an early lead.
In singles play, Mester was first off the court with a decisive win at No. 6 singles, followed by McKenna Schaefbauer who extended Illinois’ lead with her victory at No. 1 singles. After Purdue earned a point at No. 4 singles, Xu clinched the overall match for Illinois by winning her contest at No. 5 singles in three sets.
The University of Illinois Fighting Illini Women’s Tennis program operates as a collegiate athletics team based in Champaign, competing within NCAA Division I as part of University of Illinois athletics, according to the official website.
Illinois will conclude its homestand on Sunday, March 22, facing Indiana at noon Central Time.
