Womens Tennis Falls Short To No. 14 Notre Dame
Notre Dame, Ind. - The Illinois State womens tennis team fell to No. 14 Notre Dame by the score of 6-1 on Saturday at the Eck Pavilion.
Liina Suurvarik earned the Redbirds single victory. Nationally ranked No. 107, Suurvarik defeated Notre Dames Becky Varnum, nationally ranked No. 58, but Coach Hoover was not surprised by the win.
Suurvarik should have won that match, said Hoover. She rebounded very nicely after last weeks tough loss.
Illness prevented Alesia Mikalayeva from completing her match against Notre Dames Lindsey Green, and she took her first loss of the season by default.
Despite the second defeat, Coach Hoover feels that the team is moving along as it should be and showing the day-by-day improvement hes looking for.
The matches were competitive and tough, said Hoover. I definitely saw improvement. Considering who were playing and how early in the season it is, were doing well.
Next up for the Redbirds is Cincinnati who they will play next Saturday, February 2nd, as the Birds take to the road for the third straight weekend.
Notre Dame 6 Illinois State 1
January 26, 2002 Eck Pavilion
Singles
1. Suurvarik (ISU) def. Varnum (ND) 6-4, 6-2
2. Green (ND) def. Mikalayeva (ISU) 1-2, ret.
3. Vaughan (ND) def. Hoffman (ISU) 6-4, 6-3
4. Cunha (ND) def. Ugorich (ISU) 6-1, 6-2
5. Salas (ND) def. Gravino (ISU) 6-0, 6-0
6. Connelly (ND) def. Lipson (ISU) 6-2, 6-2
Doubles
1. Green/Varnum (ND) def. Mikalayeva/Suurvarik (ISU) 9-7
2. Connelly/Cunha (ND) def. Gravino/Hoffman (ISU) 8-2
3. Salas/Vaughan (ND) def. Lipson/Ugorich (ISU) 8-2
