IU closes out regular season with two losses to ranked foes

Entering the weekend, the No. 34 IU women’s tennis team hoped to improve to one of the top-four teams in the conference, which would give the team a first-round bye in the Big Ten Tournament.

However, IU dropped its final two regular season matches to fall to sixth place.

On Friday, No. 47 Illinois edged out IU 4-3 in Bloomington and No. 16 Northwestern defeated IU 6-1 Sunday in Evanston, Ill.

IU was without sophomore Carolyn Chupa, who has been playing in the No. 3 singles position and No. 1 doubles combination.

“Our depth, which has been our strength, really took a hit today,” IU Coach Lin Loring said Friday. “Two doubles teams and four singles players played out of position.”

Despite winning the No. 3 doubles match against the Illini, the Hoosiers lost the doubles point. In the No. 1 match, Illinois’ No. 25 combination of Melissa Kopinski and Rachel White bested IU’s sophomore tandem of Alecia Kauss and Shannon Murdy 8-6.

Allison Falkin and Misia Kedzierski topped seniors Leslie Hureau and Jithmie Jayawickrema 8-5 in the No. 2 position.

The Fighting Illini took a 2-0 lead when No. 102 Falkin defeated No. 97 sophomore Katie Klyczek 6-0, 6-2 in the No. 2 singles match.

IU fought back when No. 119 Hureau bested No. 109 Kopinski 6-1, 6-4 in the No. 1 position.

Illinois responded with a victory in the No. 5 match; Kedzierski topped Jayawickrema 6-1, 6-3.

With Illinois one point from winning the dual match, Kauss defeated Breanne Smutko 6-4, 6-3 in the No. 3 spot to cut IU’s deficit to 3-2.

White won the match for the Fighting Illini when she topped junior Sophie Garre in the No. 4 match 6-3, 6-3.

“I thought we could cover up Carolyn Chupa being out of the lineup in singles and doubles, but we could not,” Loring said. “Illinois played really well today and took advantage of our weaknesses.”

Northwestern started strong against IU by winning the first two doubles matches and earning the doubles point.

The Wildcats jumped out to a 3-0 lead when No. 49 Kate Turvy bested No. 97 Klyczek 6-1, 6-0 in the No. 2 singles match and Barnett defeated Murdy 6-2, 6-3 in the No. 6 spot.

No. 119 Hureau put the Hoosiers on the board when she topped No. 122 Corning 6-2, 6-2.

However, that was not enough for IU and Northwestern won the three remaining singles matches.

Brittany Wowchuk secured the win for the Wildcats when she defeated Jayawickrema 7-5, 6-1 in the No. 5 singles position.

As the No. 6 seed in the Big Ten Tournament, IU will play Thursday against the No. 11 seed.