The Illinois State womens tennis team defeated Butler in decisive fashion in its Friday match at the Evergreen Racquet Club. The Birds downed the Bulldogs 6-1, taking each singles match they won in two sets.
Laura Gravino led the way for the Birds as she defeated Tayo Bailey 6-1, 6-1 in the No. 2 singles flight. Veronique Parke-Bedard took the No. 3 match for Illinois State, downing Michelle Hawes 6-2, 6-4, while Emilie Sechaud defeated Kaitlin Elliott 6-1, 6-1 in the No. 4 spot. Carrie Rachon lost a tough match to Illinois States Carolyne Parent 6-4, 6-2 in the No. 5 singles flight, while Ashley Maxwell rounded out the Redbird winners in a 6-1, 7-5 flight 6 victory over Chelsea Casperson.
The Redbirds were able, for the second time this season, to nail down the doubles point that has remained elusive so far this spring. Head coach Chris Hoover was pleased with the Redbird win, but especially happy to see his team score in doubles.
Any win is a good win for us right now, said Hoover. But I was especially pleased to see the doubles win tonight; especially the way we did it, winning at the No. 1 and No. 3 doubles positions, which is where weve been having the most trouble. We fought tonight like we wanted to win and found a way to get it done.
In the No. 1 doubles spot the Redbird duo of Parke-Bedard and Maxwell defeated Griffin and Kim Jenson 8-4, while Sechaud paired with Matea Simovic at the No. 3 spot for the Birds to defeat Hawes and Elliott 8-3. Although Hoover was pleased with the win, he feels the Birds will have to continue working and fighting to stay on top.
Tonights win wasnt the prettiest, said Hoover. But you never get a match where everything just goes your way, that happens about 20% of the time. The other 80% you have to fight and work to have the outcome you want. We still have a couple of things to work through, our freshmen are learning everytime they step out onto the court. Thats something we have to recognize and continue to work on.
Weve juggled some things around in the line-up and with Liz playing in the No. 1 spot, her season is going to be a rollercoaster, Hoover continued. But on the other hand, Laura is playing at No. 2 now, and I think she is just relishing the chance to play higher in the line-up, she will fight her way through anything and has been successful at every level shes played at while shes been here. We just have to keep working.
The Birds return to action in a 1 p.m. contest against the Phoenix of Wisconsin Green-Bay at the Evergreen Racquet Club on March 6.
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