The No. 1 duo of Liina Suurvarik and Katri Miller look to lead the Illinois State womens tennis team into action this weekend against conference rivals Evansville and Southern Illinois. Suurvarik and Miller have won nine consecutive doubles points for the Redbirds at the No. 1 position, and will look to extend that streak to 11.
Head coach Chris Hoover is looking for both schools to be equally challenging.
We are focusing on both teams being tough matches, Hoover said. We need to treat each team individually and take it one match at a time.
ISU current record is 8-3 overall and 2-0 in the Missouri Valley Conference after defeating Bradley and Indiana State last weekend. Evansville is 9-4 overall and will be opening its conference season against the Birds. Southern Illinois is 6-7 overall and will open up conference play on April 2, against Indiana State.
Although the Redbirds have two conference wins under their belt, Hoover does not think that matters.
I think both teams will be ready to play, Hoover said. We have to play every match like its our last. We may find ourselves in trouble and we need to be ready to fight to win.
The Redbirds will play the Purple Aces on Friday, April 2, at 3:30 p.m. and will go up against the Salukis on Saturday, April 3, at 1:00 p.m. Both matches will be held at the McCormick Courts in Normal.
