NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State women's tennis team, will remain in Normal this weekend for a three-game homestand, facing Detroit Mercy on Saturday and UMKC and Lewis University on Sunday.
The team began the spring slate on a high note, capturing a 4-3 win against IUPUI on Sunday. The Redbirds swept the Jaguar's in the doubles matches to take the lead and finished strong with three singles wins. Senior Veronika Golanova and Freshman Tara Damnjanovic competed for the first time as a tandem and earned a No. 1 Doubles win against IUPUI's Ochalik/Lounsbury. Golanova and Damnjanovic went on to earn MVC Doubles Team of the Week.
Detroit Mercy will start its spring season here in Normal after being ranked No. 8 in the Horizon League Preseason Poll. The Titans went 7-17 last season and finished No. 8 last season in the Horizon League.
UMKC is playing its first matches this weekend as well, traveling to Bradley on Saturday before coming to Normal on Sunday. The Kangaroos won the Western Athletic Conference Tournament for the past two years and went 15-9 overall last year.
Lewis University will be without Dora Andrejzski, who graduated last spring. Dora Andrejzski was named the ITA Midwest Region Senior Player of the Year last year. The Flyers went 11-9 on the season last year and are also starting their season this weekend on Saturday at Cincinnati, before traveling to Normal.
"We had a great week of practice and our players are ready for a lot of tennis this weekend," Said Coach Maja Kovacek. "Three matches in two days will be challenging, so our main focus will be to get off to a good start in doubles and to finish our sets strong."
As always admission to the events are free and will be held at the Bloomington Tennis Center. The first match is set for a 10 a.m. start time as the squad takes on Detroit Mercy. Sunday will feature a doubleheader, beginning with a match against UMKC at 10 a.m. and will conclude as they face Lewis at 4 p.m.
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