Sept. 10, 2011
PEORIA, Ill. - In another action-packed day, Illinois State's Aniko Kiss led the women's tennis team to another set of victories Saturday at the Hotels at Grand Prairie Invitational on the Markin Tennis Courts on Sunday. Kiss went undefeated in doubles and singles play, and was assisted by Stefanie Youngberg and Gabby Phillips, who both went undefeated in singles play.
"The team did well today, but I want more," said head coach Chris Hoover. "It's our goal to win the Missouri Valley Conference Championship this year, and in order to win it, we're going to have to play really well. Overall, not bad for the first tournament."
The Redbirds began the second day of play with a solid start. Kiss and Tigges defeated Sarah Rodefeld and Carly Miles of Bradley, 8-2, as well as Corey Mattson and Adele Henke of Bradley, 8-1. Team captain Hannah Esker and partner Heather Nisbetalso won both of their matches, besting Bradley's Elizabeth Przystawski and Cassia Wojtalik, 8-2, and Bradley's Meredith McDonagh and Ashley Roth, 8-1. Youngberg and Phillips also defeated Maddy Warder and Yamini Reddy of South Dakota, 8-2.
Youngberg and Phillips later lost to Monique Graf and Jessie Bertino of Bradley, 8-1. Ashton Nisbetwas partnered with Nicole Mitchell of Robert Morris, who lost after a valiant effort against South Dakota's Warder and Reddy, 8-4, as well as South Dakota's Nina Barudzic and Marina Kiefer, 8-4.
In the second half of the day, the Redbirds continued to post wins across the board. Kiss continued consistent play by beating Henke of Bradley, 6-0, 6-1, and Lina Tejoprayitno of Chicago State, 6-1, 6-4.Youngberg defeated Elizabeth Prystawski of Bradley, 6-1, 6-0, and Shadi Soleymani of South Dakota, 6-2, 7-5. Esker defeated Robert Morris' Anastasia Khabirova, 6-0, 6-2, but lost in a close match to Soleymani of South Dakotta, 6-4, 6-4.
Tigges defeated Carly Miles of Bradley, 6-3, 6-1, and lost to Lia Tejoprayitno of Chicago State, 6-1, 6-1. Ashton Nisbet lost to Jessie Bertino of Bradley, 6-1, 6-1, and finished the day with a bye. Phillips went undefeated in singles against two opponents from Bradley, beating Meredith McDonagh, 6-3, 6-3, and Corey Mattson, 6-2, 6-1. In possibly the most intense series of the day, Heather Nisbetfinally beat out Veronika Makashov of South Dakota after three sets, 5-7, 6-4, 10-8. She later lost to Reddy of South Dakota, 6-3, 6-4.
The Redbirds are scheduled to close out tournament play Sunday, beginning at 9 a.m.
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