April 26, 2007
NORMAL, Ill. -
With the Illinois State women's tennis team's streak of four consecutive regular-season Missouri Valley Conference championships snapped, the Redbirds now turn their attention to capturing the team's fifth State Farm MVC Women's Tennis Championship in seven years. The No. 4 seeded `Birds begin their quest for the title on Friday at 10 a.m. when they face fifth-seed Drake at the Koch Family Tennis Center in Omaha, Neb.
Since 2000, the Redbirds (12-8, 6-2 MVC) have been dominant at the Valley Championship, reaching the final match five times and taking home the title on four of those occasions. This year's road to the championship appears to be one of the Redbirds' toughest as they face a familiar foe in Drake in the opening round with a potential match up with conference unbeaten Wichita State awaiting them in semifinals.
"We need to be focused and ready to play against Drake," head coach Chris Hoover said. "After losing to us on Sunday, I'm sure Drake was disappointed in how they played and will be looking to avenge the loss.
"We have to be prepared to face their best effort and I'm confident we will. We are playing some of our most consistent tennis at the right time of the season."
After rebounding from a earlier stretch where they lost six of seven contests, the `Birds are hitting on all cylinders after turning the tide by winning their first six contests against Valley foes and eight of 10 overall to finish the regular season.
If ISU is to have a long and successful run this weekend, they will have to continue to receive stellar play from juniors Carolyne Parent and Véronique Parke-Bédard. Parent leads the team with 21 victories in singles, notching back-to-back 20-win seasons, and has been on a tear claiming 18 of her last 22 matches. Parke-Bédard has been equally as impressive recording 19 singles wins. A victory against Drake would give the Pont-Rouge, Québec, native her second career 20-win campaign.
First-round opponent Drake (9-13, 4-4 MVC) will be fresh on the minds of the `Birds after the two teams squared off this past Sunday in Normal, Ill. The Bulldogs took the early 1-0 lead by sweeping all three doubles positions, before ISU came back to clinch the match with four consecutive singles victories. The 4-2 win marked the only time this season the `Birds won the match after losing the doubles point.
In 12 seasons at the helm of the Redbird women's tennis program, Hoover has compiled a 25-8 all-time record at the Valley Championship, including a 4-2 mark versus Drake. The two teams last met each other in the semifinals in 2004 and have met in the title match in both 2000 and 2001.
A victory over Drake would advance the Redbirds to face the No. 36 Shockers, who are 23-2 overall and lost only one point in eight conference matches. The potential first serve against WSU is slated for 11 a.m. on Saturday.
