Ferrari nets first singles win for Illini

LAS VEGAS –- Freshman Kida Ferrari notched the Illini women's tennis program's first win of the season at the Bella the Ball Collegiate Invitational on Sunday. Her first collegiate win - a nailbiter - came via a 7-5, 7-6 (1) decision over Baylor's Ana Zamburek during Illinois' first tennis match of the season.

Unfortunately, the rest of the squad did not fare as well as the Illini dropped their season opener to the #11 ranked Lady Bears, 6-1.

Illinois earned just one win towards the doubles point thanks to Josie Frazier and Ashley Yeah. The junior duo snagged a win on the #2 doubles court, besting Baylor's Isabella Harvison and Alicia Herrero.

The Illini lost three of their singles matches in tiebreakers. Illinois' freshman Megan Heuser struggled in her first set against Herrero on the #4 court. Finding her game, Heuser stormed back to take the second set, 6-1. The stage was now set for a third-set thriller, which ended at 6-all. In the end, Herrero outlasted the Heuser 11-9 to take the match.


BOX SCORE

Baylor 6, Illinois 1

Doubles -
1. Alina Shcherbinina/Anita Sahdiieva (BU) def. Kate Duong/Megan Heuser (ILL) 7-5
2. Josie Frazier/Ashley Yeah (ILL) def. Isabella Harvison/Alicia Herrero (BU) 6-4
3. Ana Zamburek/Paula Baranano (BU) def. Emily Casati/Kasia Treiber (ILL) 6-1

Singles -
1. Alina Shcherbinina (BU) def. Kate Duong (ILL) 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 6-1
2. Isabella Harvison (BU) def. Ashley Yeah (ILL) 2-6, 6-4, 6-2
3. Anita Sahdiieva (BU) def. Josie Frazier (ILL) 6-3, 6-4
4. Alicia Herrero (BU) def. Megan Heuser (ILL) 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (11-9)
5. Paula Baranano (BU) def. Kasia Treiber (ILL) 6-1, 3-6, 6-0
6. Kida Ferrari (ILL) def. Ana Zamburek (BU) 7-5, 7-6 (7-1)