Liina Suurvarik and Laura Gravino helped stay undefeated in conference play as the Illinois State womens tennis team dominated the Missouri Valley Conference championship by dropping No. 2 Southwest Missouri State, 4-0, to capture the Valley tournament title.
The Redbirds will move on to play in the regional tournament which will be announced Wednesday, April 30, at 3:30 p.m. on ESPNEWS.
This is the second time in three years the Birds won the conference tournament, which gives ISU its 111 team championship since conference play began in 1982.
Chris Hoover, the 2003 Valley Coach of the Year, credits his team for playing excellent tennis down the stretch.
Ending the spring by winning 13 in a row shows how hard we have worked throughout the season, Hoover said. Playing nationally-ranked teams in the early part of the spring schedule prepared us well for the rest of the spring.
The Birds came out strong against SMS in doubles by taking a crucial doubles point. As they did all year long, Liina Suurvarik and Alesia Mikalayeva led the way downing Ia Zozrashvili and Cassandra Godfrey, 8-2, in the No. 1 flight. At No. 2 doubles Laura Gravino and Alana Hoffman secured the doubles point dropping Maria Amato and Marta Rubina, 8-4.
The Redbirds played just as well in singles to clinch the tournament title. Suurvarik picked up her 37th victory of the season ousting Zozrashvili 7-5, 6-3, in the No. 1 spot. At the No. 3 position, Gravino remained hot winning her 13th match in a row dropping Amato 6-3, 6-1. Elizabeth Bingier stepped up big downing Rubina 6-3, 6-2, at the No. 4 singles position. After picking up the deciding point, the rest of the singles matches were not finished.
Hoover was impressed with the victory the Birds pulled out Sunday.
Starting the day winning the doubles point was a big momentum boost for the team. Hoover said. We got a big win from Liz Bingier at the No. 4 position and played great overall.
The pairings will be announced on ESPNEWS located on DirecTV channel 207 and DishNetwork channel 142.
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