March 11, 2006
Results
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Illinois State's first match in two weeks came with a price as they endured a 6-1 defeat against Western Michigan (8-3). The Redbird's (2-3) one win came from Katri Miller's victory in number one singles.
Head coach Chris Hoover and the team were not happy with their performance against the Broncos and hope to clean up their skills before their first conference match against Saint Louis.
"We did not play well today," said Hoover. "We need to work on a lot of things before our next match against Saint Louis."
Miller enjoyed a 6-4, 6-3 win against Malena Remynse for flight one singles which gave the Redbirds a point against the Broncos. However, losses in number two through six singles ruined the chance for an Illinois State team win. Véronique Parke-Bédard played at number two singles for the second time this season and fell short to Carrie Jeanmaire 6-1, 7-5. Emilie Sechaud's number three singles match resulted in a loss to Reedhina Parekh in two sets 6-4, 6-2. Carolyne Parent's winning streak in number four singles was snapped by her loss against Rattiya Hiranrat 6-2, 6-3, and the defeats continued for Ashley Maxwell in number five singles match with Priyanka Parekh 6-1, 6-0 and for Nicole Schneider's 6-3, 6-4 loss face against Kerstin Pahl. Matea Simovic's competition in number seven singles came the closest but she fell short to a 7-5 defeat from Saruta Noriko.
Assistant coach Liina Suurvarik, and former women's star tennis player for the Redbirds, believes hard work will improve their performances for future matches.
"We have to do better than we did today in order to be successful for the rest of the season," said Suurvarik. " We need to polish our skills and play hard in practice before we head back into competing and going against our conference opponents. I know we will do that."
Miller and Michelle Rabinovich lost their number one doubles match to pair Jeanmaire and Remynse 6-8, and Parke-Bédard and Maxwell suffered a 8-2 defeat from Noriko and Hiranrat. The doubles concluded with a 8-3 loss for Schneider and Simovic against Parekh, R. and Pahl.
The `Birds are now ready to prepare for their first conference match at home on March 22, at 3 p.m. against Saint Louis.
