Chambana Sun

The Illinois women's tennis team is set to face No. 3 Michigan and No. 73 Michigan State in an upcoming road trip. The matches, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday respectively, follow a four-match homestand in Big Ten play for Illinois. The team's record stands at 8-9 overall and 3-3 in conference play.

Illinois' encounter with Michigan will be its seventh match against a top-25 opponent this season. The team's overall record against Michigan is 11-41, while they hold a 38-13 record against Michigan State in their all-time series.

Reflecting on recent performances, Illinois split its matches last weekend against Oregon and No. 20 Washington. The team secured a 4-1 victory over Oregon but fell 4-1 to Washington after initially winning the doubles point.

Head coach Evan Clark enters his 10th season at Illinois, boasting a record of 140-96 and 69-34 in the Big Ten. Clark is the program's all-time winningest coach, surpassing predecessor Jennifer Roberts. Under Clark, Illinois has achieved notable milestones, including hosting the 2025 ITA Team Indoor Championships.

The team has seen standout performances, including freshman Ariel Madatali leading with 14 singles victories and junior McKenna Schaefbauer included in the Big Ten Women's Tennis Players to Watch List.

Michigan ranks No. 3 in the team rankings, and Illinois is positioned at No. 48, with Michigan State at No. 73. Michigan's squad features several ranked players, including No. 3 Julia Fliegner, while Illinois aims to leverage this high-level competition.

As the season progresses, Illinois continues to build on its recent successes, including back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances under Clark. The team's performance this season reflects its pursuit of sustained success in collegiate tennis.