Members of the Illinois State women's tennis team won all matches in which they competed in during the opening rounds of the Missouri Valley Conference Individual Championships.
In the No. 1 position, newcomer Liina Suurvarik won her first two matches as a Redbird. In her first round, she defeated Annelie van den Heever of Wichita State (7-5, 6-0) to advanced to the second round where she easily defeated Evansville1s McCann (6-1, 6-1).
Alesia Mikalayeva, playing in the No. 2 slot this weekend, won in straight sets over Bradley1s Mihm (6-0, 6-0) to advance to the semifinals. Zana Friganovic won her match over Tara Trapani of Southern Illinois at No. 3, (5-2, ret.). At No. 4, freshman Elizabeth Bingier earned her first conference victory over Drake1s Jenny Saluri (6-4, 6-1).
Senior Brigette Zarazee extended her winning streak to eight matches with a victory over Drake1s Fenimore at No. 5 (7-6, 6-3). Shelby Lipson, playing at No. 6, defeated Korkol Quaye of Northern Iowa (6-1, 6-1). Alana Hoffman, the Birds No. 7 player, won in straight sets over Evansville's Place (6-0, 6-0).
The Redbirds carried their strong play with them into doubles play as all three doubles teams advanced into the semifinals.
At No. 1, Suurvarik and Mikalayeva ousted Creighton1s team of Kowal/Green (8-4). The No. 2 team for the Birds, Friganovic and Hoffman, upended Indiana State1s Becker/Whitney (8-2). The No. 3 duo of Zarazee and Lipson defeated Quaye/Crowley of Northern Iowa (8-3).
Semifinal action gets underway tomorrow morning at 9:00 at Southwest Missouri State1s Cooper Tennis Complex.
