White leads Illini at Fab Four Invite

Four members of the Illinois women’s tennis team opened up the Illini’s fall season this weekend at the Duke Fab Four Invitational.

Rachael White’s performance highlighted Illinois’ efforts in Cary, N.C. The sophomore went 3-1 on the weekend and defeated top-seeded and preseason No. 6 Maria Mosolova, 6-1, 6-3. White finished the weekend in fifth place in Section A singles.

Illini freshman Allison Falkin also competed in Section A and won her first match as an Illini, a 6-3, 6-1, victory against Northwestern’s Nida Hamilton.

Illinois as a team went 4-0 against Northwestern, aided by sophomore Breanne Smutko’s 6-2, 6-2, Section B victory against Brittany Wowchuk. Smutko also defeated Purdue’s Mara Schmidt 6-2, 6-4, before falling in the tournament’s consolation finals to Alabama’s Mary Anne Macfarlane, 6-2, 6-3.

Smutko also teamed up with junior Chelcie Abajian to win the Section A consolation doubles title.

Nevolo wins MVP at Illini Invite

Dennis Nevolo led the Illini at the 2010 Olympia Fields Country Club Fighting Illini Invitational going 4-0 in his single matches and earning the Most Outstanding Player award.

The junior did not drop a set all weekend as the Illini won 14 single matches and went 5-1 in doubles matches.

Five other Illini competed in the tournament including No. 62 senior Abe Souza who found success in doubles, playing with fellow Illini senior Johnny Hamui and sophomore Bruno Abdelnour, he won both of his double matches.

Souza did not fare as well in singles going 2-2 but defeating No. 37 Casey Watt of Notre Dame 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-1.

The Illini will next play Sept. 24 in the Napa Valley Invitational in St. Helena, Calif.

Compiled from Daily Illini staff reports