NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State Women's tennis team took down Creighton 4-2 on Saturday, Feb. 23 to advance to the final round of the Redbird Invitational. Illinois State will face Toledo tomorrow for the championship game, with the first serve scheduled for 12:30 p.m.
Freshman Tara Damnjanovic and Junior Natalia Bravo entered the match strong, securing the first win in doubles. Sophomores Laura Fitzgerald and Ivon Mihaleva followed adding another Redbird win, clinching the doubles point for ISU. Senior Jana Kustkova took down Michaela Henne for the first win of the singles matches, giving the 'Birds the momentum they needed to finish out the round with a win.
Redbirds Scoring Breakdown:
Singles competition
1. Ashley Ishimura (CRE) def. Veronika Golanova (ILST) 6-4, 6-4
2. Tara Damnjanovic (ILST) vs. Sarah Wilcox (CRE) 2-6, 7-5, 2-1 DNF
3. Jana Kustkova (ILST) def. Michaela Henne (CRE) 6-3, 6-2
4. Natalia Bravo (ILST) def. Erin Epperson (CRE) 6-4, 6-4
5. Laura Fitzgerald (ILST) def. Claire Embree (CRE) 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
6. Meredith Benson (CRE) def. Ivon Mihaleva (ILST) 6-2 RET.
Doubles competition
1. Ashley Ishimura/Sarah Wilcox (CRE) def. Veronika Golanova/Jana Kustkova (ILST) 6-3
2. Tara Damnjanovic/Natalia Bravo (ILST) def. Michaela Henne/Gabby O'Conner (CRE) 6-2
3. Laura Fitzgerald/Ivon Mihaleva (ILST) def. Erin Epperson/Claire Embree (CRE) 6-3
Thoughts from Coach Maja Kovacek:
"We had a great day of competition. It was a tough battle in singles, so the doubles point proved to be very valuable. Natalia coming back from 1-4, down in the first set to win, gave us a bunch of momentum. Tara winning her second set helped Laura out to clinch the match for us."
Up Next: The Redbirds will take on Toledo tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. for the Redbird Invitational Championship.
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