CHAMPAIGN — The tipping point for this Illinois women's tennis season came early.
The Illini ended January with a 4-0 loss to then No. 5 North Carolina — their first of the season. Six days later Illinois took down Texas 4-2 at Atkins Tennis Center for the program's first win against a top 15 team since a March 2012 win also against the Longhorns.
That 4-2 win against Texas on Feb. 2, clinched by freshman Mia Rabinowitz, was followed just more than two weeks later with a 4-3 victory against No. 22 Washington.
The Illini ultimately went 7-0 in February and finished the month with a neutral site victory against No.