Redbirds Fall Short to the College of Charleston, 4-3

RESULTS

MT. PLEASANT, S.C.  – Despite winning three singles and one doubles match, the Illinois State women's tennis team (8-5) ultimately fell to the College of Charleston (10-4), 4-3 in its spring break finale Thursday afternoon at the College of Charleston Tennis Center at Patriots Point.

"We had a big opportunity in doubles that we let slip away and it proved to be costly," head coach Maja Kovacek said. "I'm proud of the way we competed in singles and how much we improved this week playing outdoors."

The Redbirds went 1-2 in doubles play, losing the doubles point to the Cougars. To start off doubles play Redbird duo, Marcia Tere-Apisah and Kadi Ilves were defeated by the College of Charleston's Mara Argyriou and Katherine Schofield, 6-3. The Redbirds rallied back in No. 3 doubles to tie it, 1-1 as Sarah Paulson and Catherine Shulman topped Sarah Jane Jones and Diana Colen, 6-4. The deciding point came down to No. 2 doubles, where the College of Charleston pushed through to earn the doubles point. Veronika Golanova and Jana Kustkova fell to Liza Fieldsend and Helena Nyikos in a tight match, 7-6(5).

ISU did everything it could to make a comeback in singles, but it was not enough to push them past the College of Charleston Thursday afternoon. The Redbirds earned wins in No. 1, No. 2 and No. 6 singles. Catherine Shulman tallied the first singles win for ISU outscoring Colen in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4. After dropping the first set to Fieldsend, 5-7, Golanova came from behind to win the next two sets, 7-5, 10-8. Tere-Apisah also rallied back after losing the first set against Schofield, 6-7(3), to win the next two sets, 6-3, 10-3 to earn the third and final singles victory for the Redbirds.  

The Redbirds are back in action next weekend March 19 and 20. ISU will first face Marquette on the road Saturday (March 19) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, at 12 p.m. The Redbirds will then return home Sunday (March 20) to the Gregory Street Tennis Courts to battle Wright State for their first outdoor match of the season at 4 p.m. For updates on ISU women's tennis, follow them on Twitter: @RedbirdWTEN. 

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