Feb. 6, 2010
EL PASO, Texas -
Senior Julia Zubkova and sophomore Franziska Steinhardt once again stole the No. 1 doubles point for the Redbirds on Saturday, when they competed against the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) but ultimately lost, 4-3. The Redbirds managed to sweep the Minors in double points but it was not enough to come out on-top.
The Redbirds captured their first point in No. 1 singles play when Zubkova and Steinhardt downed Carolina DeLuca and Martina Trierweiler in a tiebreaker, 9-8 (7-5). The No. 2 position also saw a tiebreaker with Natalia Lech and Aniko Kiss as they took down Ximena Fuentes and Marina DeLuca, 9-8 (7-5). Carmen Peters and Hannah Esker continued their success at the No. 3 position. The duo battled against Alexandra Glebova and Austin Lavallii and clinched a win, 9-7.
"We just ran out of gas," said head coach Chris Hoover. "It was a tough game and we had an amazing come-back in doubles. What we need to start doing is getting out in-front with our sets in doubles play. We lost the same way we did against Texas A&M Corpus Christi yesterday. It was the third set in the No. 1 singles with Aniko."
The only victories in singles play came at the No. 2 and No. 3 positions. Zubkova competed against Dariya Abdrakhmanova at the No. 2 position and lost in two-sets, 7-5, 6-2. Esker played at the No. 3 position where she faced Ximena Fuentas and fell, 6-2, 6-1.
"I was happy to see Julia win her singles match as well as Hannah," said Hoover. "It was rough and we've had two tough matches in a row and we came up a little short. Tomorrow is a new day."
The Illinois State women's tennis team will return to play Feb. 7, at 9 a.m. against Sam Houston State.
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