East Lansing, Mich--The Illinois Fighting Illini and Wisconsin Badgers opened up their championship play Friday morning. The fourth seeded Illini came into the match hoping to repeat their victory over Wisconsin earlier in the season, but the Badgers would not go down easily.
The scoring was opened as the Badgers took the third doubles match, when Chelsea Nusslock and Nicole Beck defeated the Illinois squad of Momei Qu and Pavlina Akritas, 8-2. The Illini tied the score by winning at first doubles. The Illinois team of Cynthia Goulet and Emily Wang beat Badgers Katie McGaffigan and Caitlin Burke, 8-5. At the second court, the doubles point's deciding match, Wisconsin's Kaylan Caiati and Lindsay Martin beat Macall Harkins and Brianna Knue, 8-4. With the victory the Badgers took an important point into singles competition.
At first singles, Illinois senior Cynthya Goulet continued her impressive season defeating Katie McGaffigan, 6-3, 6-1, to even the team totals at one a piece. Wisconsin retook the lead when Nicole Beck won at five, 6-4, 6-3, over Emily Wang. Three of the remaining four courts went to a third set. On three, Illinois' Momei Qu gutted out a fantastic match with Badger Lindsay Martin to earn the victory 6-2, 1-6, 6-2. After being shutout in the first set at fourth singles, Wisconsin's Nicole Beck charged back taking the next two from Brianna Knue. The final score was 0-6, 6-3, 6-4. With the team totals tied at three, Wisconsin's Chelsea Nusslock sealed the victory for the Badgers, defeating Alejandra Cuadra 6-4, 6-3. The second singles match was abandoned with Illinois' Macall Harkins leading 6-3, 4-6, 4-2.
Fifth seeded Wisconsin will next face the top-seeded Northwestern Wildcats on Saturday at 12:00 noon ET. The Wildcats beat out the Badgers 5-2, in the first match of the Big Ten season. All match times are subject to change based on weather. Log onto BigTen.org throughout the 2005 Women's Tennis Championship for up-to-date scores, updates, and results.
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