April 24, 2008
NORMAL, Ill. -
The Illinois State women's tennis team has begun its journey for another State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Championship title. In the past eight years, the Redbirds have won five titles under the guidance of head coach Chris Hoover. The `Birds are seeded No. 3 and will begin competition on Friday at 12:30 p.m. when they face No. 6 Drake at the Koch Family Tennis Center in Omaha, Neb.
The Redbirds ended their regular season at 12-9 overall and 6-2 in the Valley. Despite a successful season, the road to the title is harder than in years past with two nationally-ranked teams in the No. 1 and No. 2 positions. No. 75 Indiana State went 8-0 in the regular season, putting them at No. 1, while No. 72 Wichita State went 7-1 and is seeded No. 2. Wichita State returns to the tournament after winning the last two MVC Championship titles.
The first step to the title involves the `Birds facing the Bulldogs. The last time the Redbirds faced Drake was April 5, in Des Moines, Iowa. After securing the doubles point and only falling in one singles match, the `Birds topped the Bulldogs 6-1.
Hoover is taking practical steps to preparing his team for the championship.
"The goal is to get the student-athletes wrapped up in all of their classes before we head on the road," said Hoover. "At practice, we are going to continue to maintain a minimal amount of hitting so they can rest. It's important that we have them rested and their school work in order so that they can have their minds on tennis."
The Redbirds will be looking to sophomore Julia Zubkova and senior Véronique Parke-Bédard to continue their success on the court. Zubkova leads the team in wins with a 25-9 singles mark and lost only one of her six MVC matches at the No. 2 spot. Parke-Bédard also only lost one MVC match and holds a 21-11 overall singles record, mainly in the No. 3 position.
Veronkia Leszayova leads the Bulldogs at No. 1 singles, with a 14-9 dual match record, and has teamed with Sarah Plowman to go 10-8 at No. 1 doubles. Kari Sloboth has also been a big contributor in dual match singles this year, with a 18-14 record. In the past four years, the `Birds have faced Drake six times and come out with the win each time.
A victory over Drake would advance the Redbirds to face the winner of the Wichita State-Evansville quarterfinal match on Saturday, April 28 at 2 p.m.
