March 25, 2010
NORMAL, Ill. -
The Illinois State women's tennis team is set to open its first Missouri Valley Conference match of the 2010 season on Friday March 26, against Bradley. The squad enters Valley play with a 9-4 record on the season.
The Redbirds have not competed since their spring break where they claimed victories over South Dakota State and University of Connecticut and saw a loss against Illinois-Chicago. After two weeks of practice, head coach Chris Hoover is excited for the team to get back on the court.
"We're ready to get back into play," said Hoover. "The student-athletes are healthy again after fighting colds and the flu the last couple of days. We've had two weeks of practice and we're prepared to play."
The `Birds will look to senior Julia Zubkova to lead the team in conference action. Zubkova plays at the No. 2 singles court and marks a 10-3 dual singles record. In doubles play, Zubkova and Franziska Steinhardt team up at the No. 2 doubles court where they hold a 9-3 dual doubles record.
Illinois State leads the all-time series over Bradley 36-13, with ISU winning the last 31 matches. The Braves last saw a victory over the Redbirds in 1986, where ISU lost, 5-4. The last time the two teams met was on March 27, 2009, in Peoria, Ill., at the Markin Tennis Courts, where Illinois State Swept Bradley, 7-0.
The match will be held at the Evergreen Racquet Club in Bloomington, Ill., at 3 p.m., weather permitting.
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