VS. UMKC RESULTS | VS. IOWA RESULTS
IOWA CITY, Iowa – After sweeping UMKC 4-0 to go 5-0 on the season, the Illinois State women's tennis team later fell to Iowa, 4-0 during a doubleheader Saturday at the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex.
"I think we were very competitive today even though the score against Iowa may not show it," said head coach Maja Kovacek. "It was a long day of tennis, and I'm very happy with how hard we competed. We played some of our best tennis so far this season against a very good Iowa team. We showed that we have a lot of potential, but also what we need to improve on within the next few weeks."
The Redbirds extended their winning streak to five Saturday afternoon after sweeping UMKC, 4-0. For the fifth-straight match ISU began the afternoon by winning the doubles point. Notching doubles wins were ISU's No. 2 and No. 3 doubles teams. Not wasting any time, Redbird duo Jana Kustkova and Veronika Golanova topped UMKC's Allie Schulte and Mariam Kurasbediani, 6-0. The ISU twosome of Sarah Paulson and Catherine Shulman clinched the doubles point for the Redbirds by defeating UMKC's Linda Ammar Mouhoub and Marina Albert, 6-3.
ISU continued its success into singles, winning three-straight singles matches Saturday afternoon to secure the victory. Shulman gave the Redbirds an early, 2-0 lead with her, 6-2, 6-0 win over UMKC's Ammar Mouhoub. Kustkova then put the Redbirds up 3-0 with her, 6-1, 6-3, win over Albert of UMKC. Golanova solidified the Redbird victory by defeating UMKC's Dimitra Stavrianakou in straight sets 6-2, 6-0.
Saturday evening the Redbirds faced Iowa in part two of their doubleheader where the Redbirds suffered their first loss of the season. For the first time this year, ISU did not earn the doubles point, and the Hawkeyes went on to sweep doubles play. Gercar was defeated by Iowa's Aimee Tarun, 6-1, 6-2, while Iowa's Adorabol Huckleby earned a, 6-2, 6-4, win over Shulman. After a hard fought battle, Kustkova fell to ranked opponent, Zoe Douglas of Iowa, 7-5, 6-3. Douglas' win locked in the win for the Hawkeye's.
The Redbirds return home next weekend to face Indianapolis Saturday (Feb. 20) and Butler Sunday (Feb. 21). Both matches will be held at the Evergreen Racquet Club in Bloomington, Illinois. For updates on ISU women's tennis, follow them on Twitter: @RedbirdWTEN.
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