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March 21, 2012

AUSTIN, Texas -- No. 9 Texas (9-5) picked up wins from Elizabeth Begley, Lina Padegimaite and Krista Damico, but Illinois (9-5) emerged with a 4-3 victory over the Longhorns Wednesday afternoon at UT's Penick-Allison Tennis Center.

Illinois won two of three doubles matches to claim the doubles point and assume a 1-0 lead.  The Fighting Illini's Melissa Kopinski and Rachael White led off with an 8-4 win over UT's Padegimaite and Noel Scott at first doubles. 

Texas followed with a tight victory at the second doubles slot.  UT's Damico and Cierra Gaytan-Leach went into a tiebreaker against Illinois' Amy Allin and Marisa Lambropoulos, and Illinois set up three match-point opportunities with a 6-3 lead.  But, Texas' Damico and Gaytan-Leach claimed the next five points to win the tiebreaker, 8-6 to win the match. 

At third doubles, UT's Begley and Juliana Gajic and Illinois' Chelcie Abajian and Allison Falkin entered into a 6-6 tie before Illinois broke the Longhorns' serve and held serve to win the match, 8-6 to win the doubles point.

Illinois extended its lead at sixth singles, where Breanne Smutko defeated UT's Alex Martin, 6-0, 6-0.  Texas cut into the lead at fourth singles, where Padegimaite posted an impressive 6-1, 6-1 victory over Illinois' Allin.  The Illini extended their lead to 3-1 at second singles, where Kopinski defeated UT's Scott, 6-4, 6-4.  Illinois clinched the win at third singles, where Lambropoulos outlasted Texas' Gaytan-Leach in three sets, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1. 

At fifth singles, Texas' Begley dropped the first set to Illinois' White, 6-2 before overpowering White in  the second set, 6-1.  Begley broke for a 3-1 lead in the third set and held off White to win 6-4 and produce her eighth win in her last nine matches. 

Texas' Damico cruised to 6-2 first-set win at first singles over Illinois' 92nd-ranked Falkin before Falkin took the second set, 7-5.  Damico broke Falkin's serve to take a 3-2 third-set lead before Falkin broke Damico and held serve to take a 4-3 lead.  But, Damico claimed the next three games to win the third set and the match, 6-4 to preserve her 11th consecutive win.

Texas will take some time off before resuming Big 12 Conference play on Friday, March 30 when it hosts Kansas.  

POST-MATCH COMMENTS
Texas head coach Patty Fendick-McCain
Illinois is a tough team who came out ready to play a great match.  We were a little shorthanded, but we had people out there who we felt could do the job.  I'm really proud of Krista (Damico) getting that last singles win.  She's playing some great tennis.  (Elizabeth) Begley was solid.  She is playing great tennis, and so is Lina (Padegimaite).  They played some very good tennis against Illinois today.  It was just unfortunate that we came up a little short.      
 
Illinois 4, No. 9 Texas 3
Doubles - Order of Finish: 1, 2, 3
1 Melissa Kopinski/Rachael White (Illinois) def. #23 Lina Padegimaite/Noel Scott (UT) - 8-4
2 Krista Damico/Cierra Gaytan-Leach (UT) def. Amy Allin/Marisa Lambropoulos (Illinois) - 9-8 (6)
3 Chelcie Abajian/Allison Falkin (Illinois) def. Elizabeth Begley/Juliana Gajic (UT) - 8-6
Singles - Order of Finish:  6, 4, 2, 3, 5, 1
1 #75 Krista Damico (UT) def. #92 Allison Falkin (Illinois) - 6-2, 5-7, 6-4
2 Melissa Kopinski (Illinois) def. #122 Noel Scott (UT) - 6-4, 6-4
3 Marisa Lambropoulos (Illinois) def. Cierra Gaytan-Leach (UT) - 4-6, 6-4, 6-1
4 Lina Padegimaite (UT) def. Amy Allin (Illinois) - 6-1, 6-1
5 Elizabeth Begley (UT) def. Rachael White (Illinois) - 2-6, 6-1, 6-4
6 Breanne Smutko (Illinois) def. Alex Martin (UT) - 6-0, 6-0