Last Thursday, Megan Fudge got two unexpected visitors at her apartment.

“My roommate had opened the door as was like ‘Oh my God,’” Fudge said. “I was like, ‘Oh my God?’ What does that mean?’ And I heard her laughing.”

Fudge knew exactly who her visitors were before she saw them.

“I just honestly ran out of the lounge, and I just started crying,” she said.

At her door were her parents, who live in Germany.

It was the first time they came to watch her play in almost six years.

They came just in time, when her team won its biggest match of the season and of her collegiate career.

The Illini upset No 19 Vanderbilt, 4-3, on Saturday to advance onto the second round of the NCAA Regionals. On Sunday, the Illini fell to Fresno State, 4-3, in a match that ended in their season.

“It was the perfect weekend. It all came together.”

Saturday’s match was so intense to watch that Fudge didn’t even see her mom in the stands.

“I think she was too nervous,” she said. “I think she was hiding somewhere.

“I hope (she) saw that last moment when Tina won it cause that’s college tennis and that’s what we’ve been working for for three years.”