From University of Illinois Sports Information Office:

May 5, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

ATHENS, Ga. – No. 35 Illinois women's tennis suffered a 4-2 loss to No. 26 Florida State from the Dan Magill Tennis Complex on Georgia's campus in Athens, Ga., on Friday in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament.

Illinois is now 18-10 with the loss, including a 1-2 mark in postseason play and 6-8 record against ranked teams this season. Florida State moves to 17-10 on the 2023 campaign and is now 2-1 in postseason play including its conference tournament.

With Friday's result, Illinois moves to 4-14 all-time in NCAA Tournament action. The Orange and Blue have made 14 appearances in The Dance in program history, with three of those bids coming under the guide of Evan Clark.

With volunteer assistant coach Daniela Pedraza Novak unable to make the trip to the Peach State, Clark called on another former Illini player as Jaclyn Switkes stepped in as a volunteer for the weekend.

Illinois claimed the doubles point to open NCAA Tournament action – the squad's first doubles point won since April 9 at Maryland. The Seminoles would win the first game on all three courts. Florida State won the first doubles match, a 6-1 decision at No. 1 before the Illini battled to earn the next two matches. No. 2 finished next as Josie Frazier and Ashley Yeah downed No. 55 Arkadianou/Bissett from Florida State, 6-4, after being down 2-1. With all eyes on No. 3 doubles, Kida Ferrari and Violeta Martinez trailed 4-2 and 5-4 before winning three-straight games for a 7-5 win to clinch the doubles point.

Florida State evened the match at 1-1 with a quick 6-4, 6-0 win at No. 1 singles as No. 90 Vic Allen took down the Illini's No. 94-ranked Yeah. The Seminoles took their first lead of the match at 2-1 with a 6-4, 6-3 win at No. 3 where No. 64 Anna Arkadianou took down Frazier.

Kasia Treiber tied things back up at 2-2 when she collected Illinois' first singles victory of the day. She earned a straight-set 6-3, 6-4 victory over FSU's Olympe Lancelot.

The final three singles matches would each require all three sets to determine winners.

No. 5 singles wrapped up next as FSU's Millie Bissett took a 7-5, 1-6, 6-4 decision over Illini freshman Martinez for a 3-2 Florida State lead.

Action concluded at No. 6 singles when FSU's Alice Amendola took down Ferrari 6-7 (2), 6-2, 6-4 to clinch the win for Florida State.

With the loss, Illinois' team competition season is over. Beginning on May 22, the Illini duo of Kate Duong and Megan Heuser will begin play in the NCAA Doubles Championship from Orlando, Fla.

FULL RESULTS: NO. 26 FLORIDA STATE 4, NO. 35 ILLINOIS 2

Doubles
No. 1 – Allen/Schoppe (FSU) def. Megan Heuser/Emily Casati – 6-1
No. 2 – Josie Frazier/Ashley Yeah def. No. 55 Arkadianou/Bissett (FSU) – 6-4
No. 3 – Kida Ferrari/Violeta Martinez def. Motosono/Lancelot – 7-5

Singles
No. 1 – No. 90 Vic Allen (FSU) def. No. 94 Ashley Yeah – 6-4, 6-0
No. 2 – Megan Heuser vs. No. 64 Anna Arkadianou (FSU) – 7-6 (1), 3-6, 5-5 unfinished
No. 3 – No. 124 Ellie Schoppe (FSU) def. Josie Frazier – 6-4, 6-3
No. 4 – Kasia Treiber def. Olympe Lancelot (FSU) – 6-3, 6-4
No. 5 – Millie Bissett (FSU) def. Violeta Martinez – 7-5, 1-6, 6-4
No. 6 – Alice Amendola (FSU) def. Kida Ferrari – 6-7 (2), 6-2, 6-4

Order of Finish
Doubles – 1, 2, 3
Singles – 1, 3, 4, 5, 6
Duration – 3:53