Feb. 4, 2006
Results
Champaign, Ill. - Illinois State left Illinois enduring a 6-1 loss. However, head coach Chris Hoover is happy with the one point earned by Carolyne Parent's No. 4 singles' tie breaker. Parent's nail biting three set match was one of three against the Fighting Illini demonstrating the competitiveness the Redbirds possess on the courts.
"I wanted to see the team fight today and play hard, and they did that," said Hoover. "Nicole, Véronique and Carolyne stepped up their competitiveness and played great in their matches. I am pleased."
Singles were not an easy feat for Illinois due to the Redbirds' fighting effort. In No. 3 singles, Véronqiue Parke-Bédard barley lost in her third set against Brianna Knue 6-4, 1-5, 10-8. In No.5 singles, Nicole Schneider won her first set 6-4 against Shivani Davé but lost the next two 6-3, 10-6. Parent lost her first set 7-5 against Emily Wang in the No. 4 position, but came back to tie the second set 3-3, and win the match 10-4.
The effort displayed by the Redbirds against Illinois showed Hoover that competitiveness will get the team its State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament championship title for a fourth time in a row.
"We played competitively against Illinois, and if we do that in this weekend's matches and in conference, I know we will be successful in becoming champions," said Hoover.
No. 1 doubles pair Katri Miller and Parent were defeated 8-1 by Macall Harkins and Wang. No. 2 and No. 3 doubles were closer matches; Knue and Alejandra Meza Cuadra of Illinois barely defeated Parke-Bédard and Michelle Rabinovich of No. 2 doubles with a lead of only 8-5. Schneider and Matea Simovic also played a tight match with Momei Qu and Davé, but lost 8-4.
Going into Illinois, Hoover changed the doubles line up switching Parent to No. 1 doubles with Miller and putting Simovic with Schneider in No. 3 doubles. For now, the positions may stick.
"We may keep the two and three doubles the way they are," said Hoover. "We didn't play too well in the doubles but we played ok, and we'll see how it works out."
Hoover and the team look onward to the next matches against Butler and IUPUI. The Redbirds have not lost to either team under Hoover and plan to keep that tradition.
"We are going to win and that is what we need to improve on going into these matches coming up," said Hoover. "With the matches coming this weekend it's our intention to win, and in order to do that we need to keep working hard and fighting for everything we get."
This weekend, 0-2 Illinois State will be back on the road to Indianapolis,Ind., where they will compete at Butler on Friday at 3:30pm, and Saturday against IUPUI at 6pm.
