NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State women's tennis team competed in day two of the Missouri Valley Conference Individual Championships Sunday at the Gregory Street Tennis Courts in Normal, Illinois. The Redbirds went 3-3 in singles and 2-1 in doubles play, with Veronika Golanova securing a spot in both the flight one singles and flight one doubles championship.
"We competed well today, but we had a couple of three-setters that didn't go our way," stated head coach Maja Kovacek. "I was very happy with the adjustment Jana and Ivon made in their doubles match after yesterday. Veronika continues to show great composure and will lead the way tomorrow playing in two finals."
The doubles flight one team of Golanova and Jelena Karla Vujicic won their second doubles match of the tournament against Drake's Summer Brills and Tess Herder by a score of 8-6. The duo will fight for the flight one doubles title Monday against Bradley's Sandra Maletin and Natalia Barbery.
In the flight two doubles consolation semifinals, Jana Kustkova and Ivon Mihaleva posted a convincing 8-0 win over Missouri State's Anelisse Torrico Moreno and Phoebe Boeschen. The pair will move on to play Valparaiso's Dao Sysouvanh and Claire Czerwonka tomorrow for a chance at fifth place.
Valerija Gercar and Laura Fitzgerald were handed their first doubles loss of the tournament on Sunday by Drake's Joely Lomas and Mela Jaglarz, 8-5. The tandem will take on Valparaiso's Meg Modesto and Jordan Kopfer Monday for a shot at third place in flight three doubles.
In singles play, Golanova defeated Missouri State's Alye Darter, 6-1, 7-5. She will face Stony Brook's Elizabeth Tsvetkov on Monday in the flight one singles championship match. Golanova, who is undefeated in the MVC Individual Championships thus far, has the opportunity to take home first place in both doubles and singles flight one.
Newcomer Mihaleva also remains undefeated in singles play at the MVC Individual Championships tournament in flight four singles. She claimed her shot at first place by defeating Drake's Kenya William, 6-7(6), 6-3, 6-1. She will compete against Andrea Pascual-Larrinaga from the University of Evansville for the singles flight four title Monday.
Gercar is currently in the fight for fifth place in flight five singles. She defeated Valentina Caro from the University of Northern Iowa, 6-4, 6-2, and will face Stony Brook's Ana Carrion in singles flight five Monday.
Vujicic was defeated by Drake's Summer Brills in the semifinals round of flight two singles, 6-4, 4-6, 6-1. She will compete tomorrow against Stony Brook's Ester Chikvashvili for the chance to claim third place in flight two singles.
Kustkova was defeated by Joely Lomas from Drake in the flight three singles semifinals round, 6-2, 4-6, 6-1. She will fight for her chance to claim third place in singles flight three Monday against Stony Brook's Maria Ribeiro.
Fitzgerald fell short to Drake's Megan Webb in flight six singles, 6-4, 6-0. She moves on to play Theodora Soldatou from the University of Evansville tomorrow in flight six singles with the opportunity to take home third place.
The Redbirds will return to play tomorrow, Monday, Oct. 9 at 9 a.m., as they compete in the final day of the MVC Individual Championships. Weather permitting, competition will be held at the Gregory Street Tennis Courts.
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