April 9, 2011
NORMAL, Ill. -
Final Stats 
Sophomore Ariane Maack and the Illinois State women's tennis team increased their Missouri Valley Conference record to 2-0 with a win over Drake at the Gregory Street Tennis Courts in Normal, Ill., Saturday afternoon.
"Ariane played like a warrior (Saturday)," said head coach Chris Hoover. "She played senior level tennis and was a crucial part of the win."
Maack clinched the Redbird win after defeating Jessica Aguilera, in three sets, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, at the No. 4 spot, while also teaming up with partner Hannah Esker to bring home a doubles win against Karlynn Lauer and Klavdija Rebol at the No. 2 position, 8-4. Helping to claim the doubles point, Heather Nisbet and Carolina Abello beat Jessica Aguilera and Amanda Aragon, at the No. 3 position, 8-2, while Aniko Kiss and Phyllis Tigges defeated Gabriela Demos and Manca Krizman at the No. 1 spot, 8-7 (11-9).
Along with Maack's victory in singles, Esker defeated Lauer at the No. 5 position, 6-0, 6-2, with Gabby Phillips topping Aragon, 6-4, 7-5, at the No. 6 spot. Tigges lost to Demos, 6-4, 6-2, at the No. 2 position, while Abello was defeated by Rebol at the No. 3 spot, 7-6 (7-3), 6-0, 6-0. Rounding out play for the day, Aniko Kiss lost to Krizman in a three-set heartbreaker, 6-2, 6-7 (4-7), 6-10.
Hoover was overall pleased with the outcome of the day.
"(Saturday) was a good win," said Hoover. "It was definitely needed. We have been trying to sink our teeth into a match this season and haven't really had a match like this one yet. We played great tennis and a really tough match but we showed what we are made of. We just need to take it day-by-day and continue on this streak of success."
Illinois State is now 6-8 overall on the season with a 2-0 mark in the valley and will continue conference play as they host Northern Iowa Sunday at 9 a.m. CDT, at the Evergreen Racquet Club in Bloomington, Ill.
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