With only one day of the Missouri Valley Conference Individuals Championship to go, the Illinois State womens tennis team has advanced to five of the ten finals rounds.
In singles, ISU will compete for first place finishes in three of seven flights.
Liina Suurvarik is still unstoppable, after putting away Drakes Cecily Dubusker (6-1, 6-2), to compete in the Flight One Championship.
Alana Hoffman defeated Iowas Kristina Bothova (6-2, 6-4) during semi-finals to claim her spot in the Flight Three Championship.
Shelby Lipson also earned a chance at first place, by defeating Drakes Jenny Saluri (6-0, 3-6, 6-0) in the Flight Six semi-finals.
Not all Redbirds will compete for first place in the finals rounds.
Tatyana Ugorich will compete for third place in the final rounds after losing to host Southwest Missouri States Ala Alvarez (6-0, 6-2).
Both Alesia Mikalayeva, who defeated Evansvilles Brandee Fox (7-6, 6-3), and Laura Gravino, who beat Drakes Melinda Fenimore (6-0, 6-5) have fought their way back from a tough first day to earn spots competing for a fifth place finish in Flights Two and Six, respectively.
After the first day of doubles competition, which began a day behind schedule due to weather, ISU will compete for the championship in two of three flights.
ISUs strong pair of Suurvarik/Mikalayeva defeated three teams today to secure their spot competing for the championship in Flight One. The teammates defeated Creightons Kowal/Cavan, then Drakes Dubusker/Saluri, and finished the job off by defeating SMSs Zozrashvili/Cruz (9-7).
In Flight Three, ISUs team of Lipson/Ugorich will also compete for the championship after putting away Evansvilles Tessier/Tessier, followed by Wichitas Guzman/Stein (8-2).
ISUs team of Hoffman/Gravino, started the competition off by beating Indianas Narczewska/Becker, but were then unable to beat their next two competitors and will compete for 7th place in the Flight Two final rounds.
Sunday is the final day of the Missouri Valley Conference Individual Championship. Play will continue Sunday morning at the Cooper Tennis Complex.
