Arriving at the Missouri Valley Conference Team Championships the top seed in the tournament, the Illinois State womens tennis team crushed Evansville in their first round of play Friday afternoon.
No. 2 singles Liina Suurvarik had no problem defeating Brandee Fox, 6-1, 6-1. At No. 4, Elizabeth Bingier flew past Evansvilles Natalie Tessier, 6-1, 6-0 while Brigette Zarazee captured a flawless victory over Erin Beck, 6-0, 6-0 at the No. 6 position. The No. 1, 3, and 5 singles matches were not finished.
No. 2 doubles duo Alana Hoffman and Friganovic easily overtook Bambi McCann and Brooke Hoener, 8-1. At No. 3, Zarazee and Shelby Lipson battled against Tessier and Coleman to an 8-3 victory. No. 1 doubles Mikalayeva and Suurvarik faced Brooke Hoener and Fox but the match was not completed.
Overall, head coach Chris Hoover is happy with the win.
"We played well today, but we need to play better as the tournament goes on," Hoover said.
The Redbirds will take on Southwest Missouri State, who the women defeated 5-2 in regular season play last weekend, in the Semifinals Saturday at 12 p.m. in the Drake Tennis Center in Des Moines, Iowa.
Illinois State 4 Evansville 0
Des Moines, Iowa April 27, 2001
Singles
1. Alesia Mikalayeva (ISU) vs. Bambi McCann (UE) dnf
2. Liina Suurvarik (ISU) def. Brandee Fox (UE) 6-1, 6-1
3. Zana Friganovic (ISU) vs. Brooke Hoener (UE) dnf
4. Elizabeth Bingier (ISU) def. Natalie Tessier (UE) 6-1, 6-0
5. Shelby Lipson (ISU) vs. Liz Hedde (UE) dnf
6. Brigette Zarazee (ISU) def. Erin Beck (UE) 6-0, 6-0
Doubles
1. Mikalayeva/Suurvarik (ISU) vs. Hoener/Fox (UE) dnf
2. Hoffman/Friganovic (ISU) def. McCann/Hedde (UE) 8-1
3. Zarazee/Lipson (ISU) def. Tessier/Coleman (UE) 8-3
