ISU Heads South to Battle SIUE

NORMAL, Ill. – The 7-1 Illinois State women's tennis team looks to continue its winning ways as it travels south Sunday for a 1 p.m. matchup against SIUE at the Edwardsville YMCA in Edwardsville, Illinois.

"I expect a really competitive match," said head coach Maja Kovacek. "We have been improving every week, and we will need to make another step forward to give ourselves the best chance to come out on top Sunday against SIUE."

With the Redbirds completing the weekend sweep over Indianapolis and Butler this past weekend, the team is now a perfect 5-0 at home for the first time since the 2009-10 season, when ISU went 7-0 at home. The Redbirds have earned wins at home against Southeast Missouri State, Western Illinois, Eastern Illinois, Indianapolis and Butler, two of which have been 7-0 victories. In all five victories at home, the Redbirds have also won the doubles point.

In ISU's 7-0 victory over Indianapolis Saturday, Veronika Golanova made her No. 1 singles debut, putting the Redbirds up, 5-0, with her, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Indianapolis' Florence Renard. Golanova also teamed up with Marcia Tere-Apisah to defeat Renard and Selenay Heper, 6-1, in No. 1 doubles to clinch the doubles point for ISU.

On Sunday, the Redbirds defeated Butler, 6-1. ISU started the afternoon strong, notching victories in No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 doubles to earn the doubles point for the second-straight match and the seventh time in its last eight matches. For the second-consecutive match, Catherine Shulman earned the first singles victory for the Redbirds by defeating Butler's Jordan Minnick in two quick sets, 6-0, 6-1. Golanova capped off singles play by outscoring her opponent, 6-4, 7-6 to earn the fifth and final singles victory of the afternoon for ISU.

Kadi Ilves and Tere-Apisah remain undefeated in singles through ISU's first eight matches. Ilves is a perfect 5-0, while Tere-Apisah is 6-0.

ISU has not faced SIUE in a dual for nearly 31 years, dating back to the 1985-86 season. Between 1977 and 1986, the Redbirds went 4-3 against the Cougars. SIUE is 5-2 on the season and is an undefeated 3-0 at home. This past weekend, the Cougars earned a pair of 7-0 victories over Butler and Western Illinois. Before SIUE faces Illinois State Sunday, it will first compete against Dayton Friday afternoon. 

Sunday's match will take place at the Edwardsville YMCA in Edwardsville, Illinois, at 1 p.m. For updates on ISU women's tennis throughout the weekend, follow them on Twitter: @RedbirdWTEN. 

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