The Illinois State womens tennis team did not allow conference rival, Evansville, to score a single point as it clinched its third conference victory, and seventh straight win, Friday afternoon at McCormick Courts. ISU defeated Evansville 7-0 and improved to 3-0 in the Missouri Valley Conference,, 9-3 overall.
The Redbirds started the match out strong by winning all three doubles matches. The No. 1 doubles team of Liina Suurvarik and Katri Miller won their 10 consecutive match when they defeated Jessica Jetton and Beth Peyton, 8-6. Elizabeth Bingier and teammate Emilie Sechaud downed Evansvilles Erica Baas and Rachel Tessier, 8-2, at the No. 2 position. The No. 3 duo of Laura Gravino and Ashley Maxwell defeated Elizabeth Hedde and Emily Krodel, 8-2, and grabbed their fifth consecutive doubles win.
In singles play, Illinois State continued to dominate the match. Gravino picked up her eighth consecutive win at the No. 4 position when she shut out Hedde, 6-0, 6-0. At the No. 2 position, Katri Miller extended her winning streak to four, when she defeated Rachel Tessier, 6-3, 6-0. The closest match came at the No. 1 position when Suurvarik rallied to defeat Evansvilles Jetton, 7-5, 6-1.
Although the Birds swept Evansville, head coach Chris Hoover felt the team did not play to its potential.
One of the hardest things is to get your talented players to play above their competition, Hoover said,.I dont think we did that today. Tomorrow we are facing a tougher team and hopefully we will snap out of it and play at a higher level.
ISU return to action tomorrow in another home match-against Souther Illinois. The match will be held at the McCormick Courts and begins at 1 p.m.
Illinois State 7 , Evansville 0
Doubles
No. 1 - Liina Suurvarik/Katri Miller (ISU) def. Jessica Jetton/Beth Peyton (EU) 8-6
No. 2 - Elizabeth Bingier/Emilie Sechaud (ISU) def. Erica Baas/Rachel Tessier (EU) 8-2
No. 3 - Laura Gravino/Ashley Maxwell (ISU) def. Elizabeth Hedde/Emily Krodel (EU) 8-2
Singles
No. 1 - Liina Suurvarik (ISU) def. Jessica Jetton (EU) 7-5, 6-1
No. 2 - Katri Miller (ISU) def. Rachel Tessier (EU) 6-3, 6-0
No. 3 - Elizabeth Bingier (ISU) def. Beth Peyton (EU) 6-3, 6-0
No. 4 - Laura Gravino (ISU) def. Elizabeth Hedde (EU) 6-0,6-0
No. 5 - Emilie Sechaud (ISU) def. Erica Baas (EU) 6-3, 6-3
No. 6 - Ashley Maxwell (ISU) def. Emily Krodel (EU) 6-0, 6-3
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