Feb. 18, 2011
Normal, Ill. -
Final Stats 
Junior Aniko Kiss and the Illinois State women's tennis team claimed their first win of the 2011 spring season Friday, defeating IUPUI, 7-0, at the Evergreen Racquet Club in Bloomington, Ill.
Kiss stayed strong throughout the night winning her doubles match with teammate Phyllis Tigges against Alisha Cummings and Lee Matthews, 8-2, at the No. 1 position and clinching the Redbird sweep at No. 1 singles with a three-set win against Shelby Hullett, 5-7, 6-2, 10-7.
"Aniko played well (Friday)," head coach Chris Hoover said. "She was down in the start of her singles match but started to figure it out towards the end. She is a strong player, and if she could have cut out the unforced errors the match would have gone more her way. But in the end she got the win and played good tennis which is all that matters."
Ariane Maack and Carolina Abello were also winners in double play securing the Redbird point at the No. 2 position by defeating Danielle Haefele and Vanessa Whyte, 8-4, while Hannah Esker and Heather Nisbet lost to Shelby Hullett and Jesika Bays, 8-5, at the No. 3 spot.
In singles action, Maack started the `Birds winning streak at the No. 3 position defeating Alisha Cummings, 6-0, 6-1, while Esker beat Lee Matthews, 6-0, 6-1, at the No. 5 spot. Phillips defeated Jesika Bays at No. 4, 6-0, 6-1, with Tigges defeating Vanessa Whyte, 6-2, 6-2, at the No. 2 position. Rounding out play, Abello won against Danielle Haefele at the No. 4 spot, 6-1, 6-4.
Overall Hoover was pleased with Friday's results.
"We needed this win," said Hoover. "This was a good day for tennis. We didn't give up on anything and we played strong until the end. We did well and we hope to continue with this success as the season carry's on."
The Redbirds are now 1-3 and will continue their spring season next weekend as they host Butler and Eastern Illinois Feb. 25-26 at the Evergreen Racquet Club.
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