March 16, 2012
Results
HONOLULU, Hawaii -
Playing its fourth match in five days, all in 80-plus degree mid-day temperatures, the Illinois State women's tennis team lumbered through its final match of the trip and suffered a 6-1 defeat to Hawaii-Pacific Thursday afternoon at the UH-Manoa Tennis Complex. The Sea Warriors are ranked No. 5 in NCAA Division II.
Illinois State, which fell to 6-8 on the season, just missed taking the doubles point and suffered two singles losses in the super tie-breaker set. Hawaii-Pacific improved to 8-3.
Freshman Emmie Marx won both her matches on the day, scoring a 6-3, 2-6, 10-6 victory over Celina Goetti at No. 2 singles. Marx teamed with Aniko Kiss at No. 1 doubles and earned an 8-6 win over Vivan Hansen and Magdalena Smejova.
Despite winning the No. 1 doubles, ISU was unable to secure the doubles point, after dropping both the No. 2 and No. 3 doubles matches, 8-3 and 8-4, respectively.
"We just ran out of gas," said head coach Chris Hoover. "If we had played (HPU) earlier in the week, it might have been a different story. I was just really proud of how the team battled, especially the three that took their matches into the super tie-breakers. Emmie just left it all on the court in her win and she didn't give up."
Both Hannah Esker and Gabby Phillips battled in each of their singles matches, before falling in the super tie-breaker. Esker fell at No. 4 singles to HPU's Hansen, 6-7 (7-5), 6-2, 10-7. For Phillips, she dropped a 6-3, 2-6, 10-7 decision to the Sea Warriors' Carrie Shuler at No. 6 singles.
Illinois State's Kiss (No. 1 - 6-4, 6-3), Stefanie Youngberg (No. 3 - 6-1, 6-2) and Heather Nisbet (No. 5 - 6-1, 6-0) each fell in straight sets.
The Redbirds will now have a week off from competition and return to the courts March 23, when Illinois State travels to Marquette.
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