INDIANAPOLIS – Illinois State's Valerija Gercar won the deciding singles match to clinch a narrow 5-4 Illinois State victory over UIndy Sunday afternoon.
After playing three matches in three days, the Redbirds leave the weekend 2-1 and are now 4-2 overall.
"I am incredibly proud of the heart we've shown today," Illinois State head coach Maja Kovacek said. "(Valerija) Gercar was fantastic again, the way she kept her composure and continued to play with so much passion was impressive."
Illinois State won two of three doubles matches Sunday to secure the doubles point. No. 1 doubles partners Marcia Tere-Apisah and Jelena Karla Vujicic took down Hanna Volikova and Florence Renard, 8-3. Jana Kustkova and Gabriela Sprague were defeated by Stephanie Hirsch and Selenay Heper, 8-4. And, the Redbird duo of Andrea Beneroso and Gercar defeated twin sisters Dana and Paige Olsen, 8-2.
In singles play ISU went 3-3, after playing five tiebreakers. Tere-Apisah competed against Volikova but fell short, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(8-6). Vujicic was defeated by Renard, 6-1, 6-2. Kustkova battled hard, but also came up short to UIndy's Hirsch, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4. Sprague defeated Chloe Weihs, 3-6, 6-2, 6-1. Beneroso was victorious, as she defeated Mara Hoftstetter, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1. And, Gercar took down Heper, 6-1, 1-6, 7-6(7-3), to secure the fifth and deciding point for Illinois State.
The Redbirds will have five days off before they head back on the road to Rockford, Illinois, where they will compete against Northern Illinois at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12.
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