Building off of three strong wins last weekend, the Illinois State womens tennis team extended its win streak to five with two conference victories against Creighton and Northern Iowa Saturday afternoon.
Battling strong winds in the morning against Creighton, the Redbirds (13-5, 4-0) did not seem phased as they swept the Bluejays, 7-0. The winds proved to be too strong to play outdoors so the Northern Iowa match was moved indoors to Evergreen Racquet Club where the Birds were too strong for the Panthers, 6-1.
Im very pleased with today, picking up two conference wins is a good thing head coach Chris Hoover said. Doubles were solid and showed what they could do ant Nos. 1 and 2. In singles, we played well enough to win. There were matches when the other team was in it when they shouldnt have been, but that lies on our shoulders.
No. 1 singles player Alesia Mikalayeva picked up two wins on the day, beating Creightons Megan Kowal (6-2, 6-3) and Northern Iowas Kylene Wong (6-3, 6-2). Liina Suurvarik won easily at No. 2 against Meggan Green of Creighton (6-0, 6-0) and Jessica Landes of Northern Iowa (6-1, 6-3).
Senior Zana Friganovic had an easy win over CUs Pam Gerik (6-1, 6-1), but had troubles with UNIs Amie Crowley who did not go down without a fight, taking Friganovic to a tie-breaker in the second set before surrendering (6-1, 7-6 (7-1)).
At No. 4 Elizabeth Bingier defeated Bluejay Lauren Woodward (6-0, 6-3). In the UNI match, Bingier was down 5-1 in her first set to Kendra Lindeman, but battled back to take the set 7-5. Set two was just as tight with Bingier coming out on top 7-6 (7-4) in a tie-breaker. Shelby Lipson improved her record to 14-4 with victories at the hands of Kelly Kielbowicz (6-1, 6-2) and Fleur Muysson (6-4, 6-4) at No. 5.
The ISU doubles teams looked unstoppable, sweeping both Creighton and Northern Iowa teams. The No. 1 duo of Suurvarik/Mikalayeva beat Green/Gerik of Creighton 8-1, and did not allow any games to UNIs Landes/Lindeman winning 8-0. Alana Hoffman/Friganovic won against CUs Kowal/Kielbowicz 8-2 and against Wong and Crowley of Northern Iowa 8-1. The No. 3 doubles combination of Lipson/Brigette Zarazee won by default against the Bluejays while defeating UNIs Muysson/Amsbaugh 8-5.
In a rematch of last seasons Valley championship, the Redbirds host Drake tomorrow at noon at McCormick Courts.
We need a good one tomorrow, Hoover added. Weve got to be ready because Drake will come after us with everything theyve got. Hopefully we can take them out and win three like last weekend.
Illinois State 7 Creighton 0
Singles
1. Alesia Mikalayeva (ISU) def. Megan Kowal (CU) 6-2, 6-3
2. Liina Suurvarik (ISU) def. Meggan Green (CU) 6-0, 6-0
3. Zana Friganovic (ISU) def. Pam Gerik (CU) 6-1, 6-1
4. Elizabeth Bingier (ISU) def. Lauren Woodward (CU) 6-0, 6-3
5. Shelby Lipson (ISU) def. Kelly Kielbowica (CU) 6-1, 6-2
6. Brigette Zarazee (ISU) won by CU default
Doubles.
1. Suurvarik/Mikalayeva (ISU) def. Green/Gerik (CU) 8-1
2. Alana Hoffman/Friganovic (ISU) def. Kowal/Kelbowica (CU) 8-2
3. Zarazee/Lipson (ISU) won by CU default
Illinois State 6 Northern Iowa 1
1. Alesia Mikalayeva (ISU) def. Kylene Wong (UNI) 6-3, 6-2
2. Liina Suurvarik (ISU) def. Jessica Landes (UNI) 6-1, 6-3
3. Zana Friganovic (ISU) def. Amie Crowley (UNI) 6-1, 7-6 (7-1)
4. Elizabeth Bingier (ISU) def. Kendra Lindeman (UNI) 7-5, 7-6 (7-4)
5. Shelby Lipson (ISU) def. Fleur Muysson (UNI) 6-4, 6-4
6. Carrie Amsbaugh (UNI) def. Brigette Zarazee (ISU) 6-1, 6-2
Doubles.
1. Suurvarik/Mikalayeva (ISU) def. Landes/Lindeman (UNI) 8-0
2. Alana Hoffman/Friganovic (ISU) def. Wong/Crowley (UNI) 8-1
3. Zarazee/Lipson (ISU) def. Muysson/Amsbaugh (UNI) 8-5
