Results
CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Illinois State women's tennis team fell to Southern Illinois Saturday afternoon in a 4-3 loss.
"It was a very close match that came down to a handful of points in doubles and singles," said Illinois State head coach Maja Kovacek. "We have to give credit to SIU for playing those points better."
In doubles competition, partners Marcia Tere-Apisah and Jelena Karla Vujicic defeated Meagan Monaghan and Vitoria Birao, 7-6(3) but it was not enough to clinch the doubles point. Gabriela Sprague and partner Valerija Gercar fell to Xiwei Cai and Ana Sofia Cordero 7-5, while ISU had to forfeit the third doubles match because of injury.
In singles play, Tere-Apisah defeated her opponenet, Cai, after an intense third tiebreaker set 4-6, 7-6(7), 10-2. Vujicic in the no. 2 singles spot also took down her opponent after playing a tiebreak set, 6-2, 2-6, 6-4. Gercar came out on top with a win over Polina Dozortseva, 6-4, 1-6, 7-5. Sprague fell to Athena Chrysanthou in two sets, 6-4, 6-4 and Andrea Beneroso also fell to Monaghan 6-4, 6-4.
Illinois State is now 1-1 in Missouri Valley Conference play and 7-9 overall.
The Redbirds look to bounce back from this Sunday, as they take on Evansville at 10 a.m. The teams will compete at Evansville's Wesselman Park.
For live updates and more, follow Redbird Women's Tennis on Twitter: @RedbirdWTEN.
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