Jan. 25, 2014
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -
Illinois State's spring season-opener was decided by a third-set tiebreaker, as Eastern Illinois edged the Redbirds, 4-3, Friday night at Evergreen Racquet Club.
Head coach Chris Hoover had hoped for a better outcome, but he feels that the Redbird women (0-1) still put up a tough fight in their season-opener.
"I think the match was lost in doubles," Hoover said. "Although I think Emmie Marx made a comeback, and I thought Phyllis Tigges definitely gave herself a shot. She had the momentum after the second set, and then the wheels came off."
In doubles play, Heather Nisbet and Kadi Ilves won Doubles Flight 3 by beating Eastern Illinois' Kelly Iden and Kamile Stadalninkaite, 6-1. However, the Redbirds lost the doubles point after falling in the other two matches.
In singles play, Marx defeated EIU's Sephora Boulbahaiem in a third set tie breaker, 0-6, 6-3, 10-3. Meanwhile, Madeliene Baillon went undefeated against EIU's Hannah Kimbrough 6-0, 6-0, and Ilves claimed victory over Stadalninkaite 6-0, 6-2. Ultimately, the match came down to No. 1 singles. Eastern Illinois' Janelle Prisner forced a third-set tiebreaker where she topped Tigges, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 10-3, securing EIU's victory.
Next, the Redbirds head to Champaign-Urbana, Ill., to face Illinois this Sunday, Jan. 26, at 4 p.m.
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