Lech Goes Undefeated, `Birds Fall, 5-2, to Salukis

April 18, 2009

Stats

CARBONDALE, Ill. - Redbird junior Natalia Lech went undefeated in both singles and doubles play, but the Illinois State women's tennis team ultimately fell to Missouri Valley Conference opponent Southern Illinois, 5-2, Saturday at Carbondale, Ill., snapping the Redbirds' three-match winning streak.

The seven-hour marathon match started outdoors with doubles play. However, due to weather, the singles matches had to be moved inside, and with only three indoor courts, the singles play went an extra two hours.

In Flight 2 doubles, Lech and partner Tanja Hrovatic bested Southern Illinois's Jessica Flannery and Michela Cruise, 8-3. However, the Salukis clinched the doubles point with wins in both Flights 1 and 3. In doubles Flight 1, Julia Zubkova and Franziska Steinhardt fell to Ame Blacketer and Fadzai Mawisire (SIU), 8-4, while Redbirds Hannah Esker and Carmen Peters fell to SIU's Martine Ce Vianna and Vishakha Sheoran, 8-0, in Flight 3.

In singles play, the Redbirds (12-9, 4-3 MVC) went 2-4 with wins in Flights 2 and 5. Lech bested SIU's (15-7, 4-3 MVC) Sheoran, 6-3, 7-5, in Flight 2 singles, while Esker defeated Flannery (SIU), 6-3, 7-6 (7-4).

In Flight 1 singles, Zubkova fell to Mawisire, 6-0, 6-2, while Peters fell to Ce Vianna (SIU) in a super tiebreaker, 6-4, 4-6, 11-9. After coming back to win their second sets, Hrovatic and Steinhardt both lost in their singles matches in the third set. Hrovatic fell to Blacketer, 6-3, 0-6, 6-3, in Flight 3, while Steinhardt fell in Flight 4 to Cruise, 6-2, 0-6, 6-3.

"It is a really tough loss for us today," said head coach Chris Hoover. "We had opportunities that we just did not capitalize on. That has been a problem for us throughout the season."

The Redbirds are set to play their last regular-season conference match against Evansville Sunday (April 19) at the Carson Center Tennis Courts one hour earlier than expected at 9 a.m. . GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics, tickets, TRC gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.