The Illinois State womens tennis team could not hold off the nationally ranked Jaguars Thursday night, as they lost 6-1. The Redbirds are now 2-2 overall and 0-0 in the Missouri Valley.
The No. 1 duo of No. 42 Liina Suurvarik and Katri Miller defeated No. 85 Katarina Palenikova and Catherine Perkins with a tie-breaker, 9-7, 7-4. The rest of the doubles flights struggles against the Jaguars. Michelle Rabinovich and Laura Gravino were defeated by Klara Jarova and Andrea Kurekova in the No. 2 position, 8-2. Ashley Maxwell and Emilie Sechaud also fell to South Alabamas Dominika Nemcovicova and Marlieke Jager, 8-1.
In singles play, Suurvarik continued to perform well. No. 42 Suurvarik defeated No. 85 Katarina Palenikova in the No. 1 position. The No. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 positions were all won by South Alabama. Elizabeth Bingier put up a tough fight in the No. 3 position against Marlieke Jager before being defeated, 6-7(9), 6-4, 10-7.
Head coach Chris Hoover was impressed with Suurvariks wins in both singles and doubles.
Liina did a great job tonight Hoover said. I think she is starting to hit her stride and it is just at the right time.
The Birds (2-1, 0-0) return to action Feb. 20, against University Illinois-Chicago, at Evergreen Racquet Club in Bloomington, Ill.
No. 18 South Alabama , Illinois State
Doubles
No. 1 - Liina Suurvarik/Katri Miller (ISU) def. Katarina Palenikova/ (SAU), 9-7, 7-4
No. 2 - Klara Jarova/ Andrea Kurekova (SAU) def. Michelle Rabinovich/Laura Gravino (ISU), 8-2
No. 3 - Dominika Nemcovicova/Marlieke Jager (SAU) def. Emilie Sechaud/Ashley Maxwell (ISU), 8 -1
Singles
No. 1 - Liina Suurvarik (ISU) def. Katarina Palenikova (SAU), 6-4, 6-3
No. 2 - Andrea Kurekova (SAU) def. Katri Miller (ISU), 6-4, 6-4
No. 3 - Marlieke Jager (SAU) def. Elizabeth Bingier (ISU), 6-7(9), 6-4,10-7
No. 4 - Klara Jarova (SAU) def. Emilie Sechaud (ISU), 6-3, 6-2
No. 5 - Dominika Nemcovicova (SAU) def. Michelle Rabinovich (ISU), 6-3, 6-3
No. 6 - Ana Rupic (SAU) def. Laura Gravino (ISU), 6-1, 6-1
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