May 12, 2001
SEATTLE--Freshman Eva Choe played on a victorious doubles team and won the decisive singles match Saturday, lifting 31st-ranked Illinois to its first ever NCAA Tournament victory with a 4-2 decision over No. 45 Virginia Commonwealth in the regional semifinals at Quillian Stadium.
The Fighting Illini (18-7) awaits a regional final meeting with either Army or host Washington, Sunday at noon Pacific Time. The regional winner advances to the 16-team NCAA finals in Stone Mountain, Ga., May 17-20.
Choe teamed with Carla Rosenberg for an 8-3 doubles win over VCU's Silvia Urickova and Yana Carollo. Jennifer McGaffigan and Eldina Fazlic clinched the doubles point for Illinois with a 9-7 win over the duo of Wendy Hsu and Anca Dumitrescu.
The Rams (13-8) lost despite wins in the top two singles positions. Martina Nedelkova, the nation's 12th-ranked singles player, defeated McGaffigan 6-1, 6-4 and Dumitrescu topped Fazlic 7-6, 6-4 in the No. 2 spot.
Illinois got singles victories at Nos. 5 and 6 from Michelle Webb and Rosenberg, setting up Choe's clinching 6-2, 5-7, 6-1 win over VCU's Urickova at the No. 4 spot.
NCAA WOMEN'S TENNIS TOURNAMENT
REGIONAL SEMIFINAL (first round)
Illinois 4, Virginia Commonwealth 2
Quillian Stadium, Seattle, Wash.
Singles
1. No. 12 Martina Nedelkova (VCU) def. Jennifer McGaffigan (ILL), 6-1, 6-4
2. Anca Dumitrescu (VCU) def. Eldina Fazlic (ILL), 7-6, 6-4
3. Simone Kung (ILL) vs. Raluca Ciulei (VCU), suspended
4. Eva Choe (ILL) def. Silvia Urickova (VCU), 6-2, 5-7, 6-1 *clinched victory
5. Michelle Webb (ILL) def. Yana Carollo (VCU), 6-3, 7-5
6. Carla Rosenberg (ILL) def. Wendy Hsu (VCU), 6-1, 6-0
Doubles
1. Kung/Webb (ILL) vs. Ciulei/Nedelkova (VCU), suspended
2. Choe/Rosenberg (ILL) def. Urickova/Carollo (VCU), 8-3
3. McGaffigan/Fazlic (ILL) def. Hsu/Dumitrescu (VCU), 9-7 * clinched doubles point
Records: Illinois 18-7, Virginia Commonwealth 13-8.
POST-MATCH NOTES
o Illinois registered its first ever NCAA Tournament victory. The Illini are making their fourth NCAA championships appearance, having participated in 1997, 1999 and 2000.
o Freshman Eva Choe clinched Illinois' victory with a win at No. 4 singles. Choe was originally listed at No. 5 in the lineup, but was moved into the No. 4 spot in place of Tiffany Eklov who was scratched. Eklov has been battling back spasms. Choe joined the Illinois squad in January after graduating high school in December.
POST-MATCH QUOTES
Illinois Coach Sujay Lama
"We are obviously pleased. The first rounds are always the toughest rounds, especially not having played for two weeks and coming off of finals. You never know what is going to happen. VCU is a very dangerous team. They are very talented. We have a couple of kids who are banged up a little bit, but the kids who went in to play did a fine job. Tiffany (Eklov) has back spasms and it has been unpredictable the last six weeks. I would hate for her, at the end of the season, to hurt herself really bad. We have other people who are healthy that can step in. I have a very young team, but I have been so impressed this year with what they have done. A lot of the sophomores and freshmen have stepped up."
Illinois No. 4 Singles Player Eva Choe
"I'm always aware when other matches are ending and that it's coming down to me. It happened before, at Ohio State, that I was the deciding match. I don't know why, but my matches always seem to go the longest. I wish I could finish quick and then cheer for my teammates. This is so fun. I didn't think that coming to college was going to be this exciting. I just graduated from high school in December, so I came to Illinois in January. Coming as a mid-year student, it was amazing the changes. Now I'm playing in the NCAA Tournament."
