Making the NCAA Regionals in three of the last four years is an accomplishment that the Illinois State womens tennis will grow to appreciate over time, but on Saturday the Redbirds were left to swallow a 4-0 loss at the hands of No. 14 California in the first round of the 2004 NCAA Regional at the Hellman Tennis Center.
Despite the 4-0 score, head coach Chris Hoover felt his Birds battled.
I thought we fought pretty hard actually, Hoover said. We only had two pretty disappointing sets up and down the line. One of them was Elizabeths (Bingier), who got beat 6-0 in her first set, but I swear to you it wasnt a 6-0 set. Cal is just tough. They fought for every point and every game and they werent going to give us anything except heartache and misery. And they did. But the kids fought hard and represented our department and university in a first-class manor.
The loss snapped Illinois States 16-match winning streak as the Redbirds ended their season with an 18-4 record. California, the No. 11 seed in the tournament, improved to 17-8 and will face Fresno State in the regional championship on Sunday.
The loss also ended the storied collegiate career of Liina Suurvarik. The ISU record holder in career singles (133) and doubles (117) victories, Suurvarik dropped her No. 1 singles match 6-1, 6-2, to the nations top player Raquel Kops-Jones. Kops-Jones teamed with Jieun Jacobs at No. 1 doubles to defeat the Redbird tandem of Suurvarik and Katri Miller, 8-4.
Hoover was sentimental about his seniors Suurvarik and Elizabeth Bingier after the loss.
Usually seeing your seniors go is a good thing, Hoover said. You are excited seeing them graduate and having their life progress forward. I usually try to look at those as very positive moments in their lives and I just hope that I was a positive influence on them.
But when you talk about Liina, I dont know what to say. I was fighting back tears all day. She didnt play particularly well and it was disappointing I know for her, because I know she has so much game. People ask me about my recruiting and how I can replace her ... I dont think I can ever replace her.
Cal claimed the doubles point when Jody Scheldt and Nicole Havlicek downed ISUs Bingier and Emilie Sechaud at No. 2 doubles, 8-1.
In singles play, the Bears were just as dominant, as Jessica Shu topped Ashley Maxwell 6-0, 6-1, at the No. 6 spot and Sasha Podkolzina beat Laura Gravino 6-2, 6-1, at the No. 4 position. The remainder of the singles matches were waved after Cal claimed the decisive fourth point.
