The Illinois State womens tennis team put together its first winning streak of the season, recording a dominant 7-0 victory over Wisconsin Green-Bay in a 1 p.m. match Sunday at the Evergreen Racquet Club. The win follows a 6-1 February 25 victory over Butler.
The Redbirds were led by Elizabeth Bingier, Laura Gravino and Emilie Sechaud, who each won their singles, as well as their doubles matches. Bingier, playing in the No. 1 singles flight, defeated Amber Murdoch 6-0, 6-4, while Gravino won 6-3, 6-1 over Heather Harding at the No. 2 spot.
Sechaud claimed victory in a 6-1, 6-2 decision at the No. 4 position over Kristin Leeder. Head coach Chris Hoover was excited about the teams decisive win, and confident it indicates positive things ahead for the Redbirds.
Im glad we won today, and especially glad we got the doubles point again, said Hoover. We just have to continue working and developing and hopefully well be rewarded for that with more wins.
Veronique Parke-Bedard contributed to the Redbird singles sweep, defeating Megan Gregory at the No. 3 position 6-1, 6-3. At the No. 5 spot Carolyne Parent shut out Amy Meissner 6-0, 6-0, while Ashley Maxwell won 6-2, 6-3 in the No. 6 singles flight over Stacy Endl.
In doubles action the Illinois State duo of Bingier and Gravino claimed an 8-4 victory over Leeder and Harding in the No. 2 flight, while Sechaud paired with Matea Simovic at the No. 3 spot to defeat Gregory and Endl 8-1. Hoover hopes the win will help his Redbird squad build the confidence they need to continue winning.
I think this match helped us get our swagger back a little bit, said Hoover. Any kind of win will help us right now, we just have to keep it going.
The Birds return to the court when they travel to New Orleans, La. during spring break to take on New Orleans in a 3 p.m. match March 15.
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