BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Junior Kadi Ilves claimed victory in No. 1 singles, but the Illinois State women's tennis team fell to Eastern Illinois, 6-1, Saturday afternoon at the Evergreen Racquet Club.
"I'm happy with how I played in my singles match," Ilves said. "Even though we lost as a team, everyone is constantly getting better in every match we play. I think by the time we start conference matches, we should be in a good place."
In No. 1 singles play, Ilves earned the only victory against EIU's Kelly Iden, 6-2, 6-2. Meanwhile, freshman Donna Haycock fell to EIU's Grace Summers, 6-1, 6-4, in No. 2 singles. In No.3 singles, freshman Catherine Shulman lost to EIU's Ali Foster, 6-2, 6-1. After a long battle in No. 4 singles, sophomore Chanel Scudiero fell short to EIU's Sephora Boulbahaiem 7-6(5), 4-6, 10-8. Likewise, freshman Valerija Gercar was defeated by EIU's Hannah Kimbrough, 1-6, 7-6, 10-5 in No. 5 singles. Sophomore Natalia Parchowska suffered a loss by EIU's Kamile Stadalninkaite, 6-2, 6-2 in No. 6 singles.
In doubles play, the duo of Ilves and Haycock fell to EIU's Boulbahaiem and Summers, 6-3, in No.1 doubles. Meanwhile, in No. 2 doubles, Scudiero and Shulman were defeated by EIU's Foster and Kimbrough, 6-1, resulting in an unfinished set for Gercar and Parchowska versus EIU's Iden and Stadalninkaite, 5-5, in No. 3 doubles.
"I think doubles was really competitive, we just weren't solid enough at the right time," said head coach Maja Kovacek. "We competed hard in singles. We just had to play some pressure points a little better. Even though we lost, there are a lot of positives that came out of this match. We will continue to work hard as we travel to Indianapolis tomorrow to compete against Butler."
Next, the Redbirds will be on the road Sunday in Indianapolis, Indiana to battle against Butler at the Butler Bubble beginning at 3 p.m.
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