RESULTS
NORMAL, Ill.  – Despite winning the doubles point, the Illinois State women's tennis team (10-8) fell to Southern Illinois (10-9), 4-3 in a tight match Friday evening at the Evergreen Racquet Club.
For the third-straight match, the Redbirds captured the doubles point to head into singles play with a 1-0 advantage. In a match that went back-and-forth early, Marcia Tere-Apisah and Veronika Golanova pulled away when it counted to earn a, 6-4 victory in No. 1 doubles over Xiwei Cai and Ana Sofia Cordero of Southern Illinois. Soon after, Kadi Ilves and Sarah Paulson notched a win in No. 2 doubles over Southern Illinois' Vitoria Veirao and Meagan Monaghan, 6-4. The duo's victory locked in the doubles point for the Redbirds. Despite fighting point-for-point in No. 3 doubles, Jana Kustkova and Catherine Shulman ultimately fell to Athena Chryanthou and Polina Dozortsera of Southern Illinois, 6-4. Â
Although Ilves and Kustkova came up short in their respective singles matches, Tere-Apisah's, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Chrysanthou in No. 2 singles tied it up at 2-2 to put the Redbirds back into contention with the Salukis. Following Tere-Apisah's match, Chanel Scudiero came up short against Polina Dozortseva, 7-5, 6-3. With SIU up 3-2, ISU needed wins in No. 1 and No. 5 singles to help secure the victory. Shulman battled back-and-forth with Katie Frise in No. 5 singles to force both sets to go to extra points but in the end fell to Frise, 7-5, 7-5 allowing SIU to lock in the victory. Rounding out singles play, Golanova overcame Cai in three sets, 7-5, 2-6, 6-3.   Â
The Redbirds continue MVC action Saturday (April 9) against Evansville at 4:30 p.m. at the Evergreen Racquet Club in Bloomington, Illinois. Admission is free, and there will be free doughnuts available for fans. For updates on ISU women's tennis, follow them on Twitter: @RedbirdWTEN.Â
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