Oct. 8, 2010
NORMAL, Ill. -
Illinois State's Aniko Kiss and the rest of the women's tennis team finished the first day of the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Individual Championship on a high note at the Gregory Street Tennis Courts in Normal, Ill.
Head coach Chris Hoover expressed his thoughts on the first day of play.
"We did a fairly good job today," said Hoover. "Carolina and Heather had some long and hard three set matches, but they were able to come away with a win and that was our ultimate goal. In all, today was a great day for tennis. The weather was great, competition was tough, and the outcome was good."
In the singles main draw, all but one Redbird advanced to the semifinal round. Kiss won her match at the No. 1 position against Creighton's Anna Kirshenbaum, 6-4, 6-4, while No. 2 Ariane Maack defeated Bradley's Sarah Rodefeld, 6-2, 6-3. Carolina Abello beat Northern Iowa's Jessica Kunzelmann, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, at the No. 3 position, with No. 4 Hannah Esker defeating Anastacia Simons of Southern Illinois, 6-3, 6-1. Gabby Phillips, Stefanie Youngberg and Ashton Nisbet had a bye in the first round, advancing them to the semifinals at the No. 5, No. 6, and No. 7 positions respectfully. Rounding out singles play, No. 7 Sarah Streitz lost to Evansville's Jess Raatz, 6-2, 6-2, and No. 7 Heather Nisbet beat Northern Iowa's Kay Delagardelle, 5-7, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3.
In doubles play, Kiss and Abello lost to Northern Iowa's Phoebe Walker and Laia Gonzalez, 8-4, at the No. 1 position with the team of Maack and Esker advancing to the semifinals after winning against Leesa cadwallader and Mary McMullan, 8-2. Heather Nisbet and Streitz also advanced to the semifinals defeating teammates Youngberg and Ashton Nisbet, 8-4, at the No. 3 position.
As for play on Saturday, Hoover thinks the team will have their work cut out for them.
"Saturday is going to be a day full of tough matches," said Hoover. "It is not going to be an easy day but we are confident and ready to see who will advance."
The tournament will continue Saturday at 9 a.m. with play ending Sunday.
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