Feb. 3, 2010
NORMAL, Ill. -
Illinois State senior Julia Zubkova earned her third-career Missouri Valley Conference Female Athlete of the Week honor, as announced by the league office Tuesday afternoon. Zubkova led the `Birds in the victories over Butler and IUPUI, as she dominated each team in both singles and doubles play this past Sunday, Jan. 31.
Zubkova opened the first match of the day competing at the No. 1 doubles position with partner Franziska Steinhardt. The duo took on Molly Casperson and Becky Jenkins of Butler in a first-set tiebreaker, 9-8 (7-2). Playing at the No. 2 singles position, Zubkova defeated Butler's Natali James, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.
Continuing her winning ways against IUPUI, Zubkova clinched another doubles win with Steinhardt at the No. 1 position against Hunter Bullock and Shelby Hullett, 8-2. The Tallin, Estonia native swept another point at the No. 2 singles position in two-sets against Shelby Hullet, 6-0, 6-2.
"Julia played great this weekend," head coach Chris Hoover said. "The competition was fair but it was how we had to play that was difficult and Julia picked it up. It is a well deserved award."
The women's tennis team will open play this Friday, Feb. 5, in El Paso, Texas.
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