Feb. 24, 2014
Results
GARITH, Ind. - The Illinois State women's tennis team defeated Illinios-Chicago, 4-3, while on the road, marking the first time in three-consecutive seasons that the Redbirds have conquered the Flames.
Despite a good effort, the Redbirds (6-3) struggled to keep up in the first half of the competition, falling in Doubles No. 2 and No. 3, giving up the doubles point to the Flames (2-8).
In Doubles No. 1, Phyllis Tigges and Kadi Ilves beat Mariana Palacios and Natasha Kuvakine, 8-3. Emmie Marx and Carolina Abello put up a tough fight, but were edged, 8-6, in Doubles No. 2 by Kathryn Shaples and Jana Knoppe, while Heather Nisbet and twin sister Ashton Nisbet were defeated by Keti Mebuke and Veronica Lacerda, 8-4.
The Redbirds turned up the heat in the singles portion of the match, gaining control of the competition, recording four singles wins. In singles No. 1, Tigges beat Palacios in a third-set tie-breaker, 6-3, 5-2, 10-5, while Marx additionally secured a win in Singles No. 2 in a third-set tie-breaker over Shaples, 0-6, 6-4, 10-5. Abello fell to Knoppe, 7-5, 6-3, in the No. 3 position, and Heather Nisbet was edged, 7-5, 6-2, in No. 5 Singles by Lacerda. Ilves secured a win over Mebuke, 6-3, 7-5, in the No. 4 position, and Gabby Phillips won by default in Singles No. 6, due to a lack of players from UIC, which ultimately decided the match in favor of Illinois State.
The Redbirds will now take a short break from competition before resuming play March 11 in Florida, versus Stetson at 2:30 p.m. CT.
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