April 22, 2012
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The No. 21 Illinois Fighting Illini spoiled senior day for the No. 29 Purdue Boilermakers. The Illini won, 5-2.
Illinois (15-6, 9-2 Big Ten) took the momentum by sweeping the doubles point. The No. 59 pair of Marissa Lambropoulos and Melissa Kopinski topped Jennifer Rabot and Mara Schmidt at No. 1, 8-2. Next, Amy Allin and Rachael White beat Lynda Xepoleas and Daniela Vidal, 8-4, at No. 2. Chelcie Abajian and Allison Falkin completed the sweep with an 8-6 win at No. 3 over Gisella Pere and Imogen Golder.
The Illini built their lead in singles. Kopinski won at No. 2, 7-6 (5) 6-4 over Xepoleas at No. 2. Then, Abajian knocked off Pere at No. 6, 6-3, 6-3, to make the score 3-0. Purdue (14-6, 6-5) finally got on the board with a win at No. 5. Golder knocked off White, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3.
Illinois clinched the match with a win at No. 4. Allin knocked off Vidal, 5-7, 6-2, 6-3. Rabot came back moments later with an upset win at No. 1. Rabot knocked off a ranked opponent for the second time over the weekend with a win over No. 98 Falkin, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4. The Illini won the final match at No. 3 as Lambropoulos knocked off Schmidt, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Illinois tied the all-time series with Purdue at 27 wins apiece. The Illini have won eight in a row in the series.
The Boilermakers finished the regular season and will have the Big Ten Tournament up next. The Tournament will be next weekend in Columbus, Ohio. Draws will be announced early in the week.