March 1, 2007
NORMAL, Ill. -
The Illinois State women's tennis team returns to action this weekend looking to snap its two-game losing skid beginning with a road match against Saint Louis at the Billikens' Sunset Tennis Center on Friday at 3 p.m. The Redbirds return home on Sunday to face DePaul at 1 p.m. at the Evergreen Racquet Club in Bloomington, Ill.
The Redbirds are looking to rebound after dropping a pair of matches last weekend in Kalamazoo, Mich., against Eastern Michigan and No. 72 Western Michigan.
"This weekend's matches are important because we need to get back on the winning track," head coach Chris Hoover said. "We need to perform to our capabilities against two quality teams."
A major key for the `Birds this weekend will be to re-establish their dominance in doubles action. In ISU's three victories to open the season, the team won the doubles point in all three matches and went 8-1 overall. During the two-match road-trip, the Redbirds lost both doubles points and were 1-5 overall. The lone doubles victory came at the No. 1 spot against WMU where the team of senior Katri Miller and junior Véronique Parke-Bédard improved to 8-2 on the season and 4-1 in dual matches.
Saint Louis is 3-6, 1-1 in the Atlantic 10 Conference, on the season and has dropped its last two matches. The Billikens' last victory came on Feb. 17, against Dayton in the team's A-10 opener.
On Sunday, the Redbirds will be looking to snap a two-match losing streak against the Blue Demons, who are 6-5 on the season and have won their first two BIG EAST match ups against St. John's and Connecticut. All five of DePaul's loses have come against ranked opponents in Indiana, Iowa, Northwestern, Purdue and Western Michigan.
The Blue Demons are led by emerging sophomore Dunja Antunovic at the No. 1 spot in the lineup. Antunovic, who captured 18 victories last season, is 14-3 in singles this season and has won 12 of her last 13 contests.
"DePaul has had some injury problems, but are still a very tough opponent," Hoover said. "They are well coached and have faced some very good teams this season."
Following Sunday's match, the Redbirds will be on the road for six straight matches beginning on Wed., Mar. 7, at in-state rival Illinois at 5 p.m.
