March 9, 2009
Stats
LAFAYETTE, La. -
Redbird freshman Hannah Esker went undefeated in singles and doubles play, but in the end, Illinois State fell to Louisiana-Lafayette (ULL), 4-3, Monday at the Cajun Courts Tennis Complex.
Illinois State's (5-6) Esker defeated ULL's (3-8) Mia Gordon, 6-1, 6-1, in Flight 4 singles play, and in doubles action, Esker along with partner Carmen Peters bested Marina Ruiz de Gauna and Tara Vasovic, 8-4, in Flight 3 doubles.
Julia Zubkova and Tanja Hrovatic joined Esker in singles wins on the day. Zubkova bested Angela Dangond, 6-1, 6-4, in Flight 1, while Hrovatic defeated Milou Israel, 7-5, 6-7 (3-7), 10-5, in Flight 3.
ULL captured the remaining points of the contest. In Flight 2 singles, ULL's Julia Mazinova bested Natalia Lech, 6-2, 6-3, while ISU's Peters fell to Marina Ruiz de Gauna, 6-1, 6-3, in Flight 5 singles. In Flight 6 singles, Tara Vasovic defeated Sarah Streitz, 6-0, 6-1.
In doubles action, ULL's Mazinova and Gordon bested ISU's Franziska Steinhardt and Zubkova, 8-4, in Flight 1. In Flight 2, the Redbird pairing of Hrovatic and Lech lost to the Ragin' Cajun duo of Dangond and Israel, 8-4.
"It was a close, hard-fought match," said head coach Chris Hoover. "Franzi played in the doubles match, but we really missed her in the singles play. She is still battling through her illness. Tomorrow (Tuesday) is another day and another match. I just want us to come out of New Orleans with a win."
The Redbirds wrap out their spring break trip by playing New Orleans Tuesday (March 10) at the University Tennis Center at 3 p.m.
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