Illinois State Wins Four Titles At 2021 MVC Individual Championship

VALPARAISO, Ind. – The final day of the 2021 MVC Individual Championships in Valparaiso, Indiana, proved successful for the Redbirds, who came away with four championships in the annual fall tournament.

"It was a good final day of the tournament for us," ISU head coach Maja Kovacek said. "We had some tough matchups and a few missed opportunities, but overall I'm happy with us brining home four titles today."

The duo Alexandra Abyasova and Laura Fitzgerald picked up a big win in Flight No. 3 over Missouri State's Miley and Presot to come away with the title, the first of the day for the Redbirds. The team of Tijana Zlatanovic and Maria Potsi and Tara Damnjanovic and Penelope Abreu each made the finals as well but were defeated to finish in second place overall.

Zlatanovic had one of the most dramatic wins of the day, as she defeated Sandra Maletin of Bradley in a three-set thriller by a score of 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (9-7) to win the Flight No. 1 title. Penelope Abreu also brought home a championship, as she defeated Nikki Perlwitz from Bradley in straight sets 6-2, 6-1 to win Flight No. 6. The final title of the day came from Othilia Brodin, who won 6-4, 6-1 over Nina Marjanovic in Flight No. 7 to secure the fourth championship of the day. Elena Jankulovska also won her match on Sunday, defeating Mia Bertino from Valparaiso to take third place in Flight No. 5.

RESULTS

Singles:
•    Flight No. 1 – Tijana Zlatanovic (ISU) def. Sandra Maletin (BU) 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (9-7) [Championship Match]
•    Flight No. 2 – Olivia Czerwonka (VALPO) def. Alexandra Abyasova (ISU) 6-4, 6-2 [Championship Match]
•    Flight No. 3 – Ines Stephani (DU) def. Maria Potsi (ISU) 0-6, 7-5, 6-3 [Championship Match]
•    Flight No. 4 – Mille Haagensen (DU) def. Tara Damjanovic (ISU) 6-0, 6-2 [Championship Match]
•    Flight No. 5 – Elena Jankulovska (ISU) def. Mia Bertino (VALPO) 6-4, 6-2 [Third Place Match]
•    Flight No. 6 – Penelope Abreu (ISU) def. Nikki Perlwitz (BU) 6-2, 6-1 [Championship Match]
•    Flight No. 7 – Othilia Brodin (ISU) def. Nina Marjanovic (BU) 6-4, 6-1

Doubles:
•    Flight No. 1 – Czerwonka/Czerwonka (VALPO)def. Zlatanovic/Potsi (ISU) 8-4
•    Flight No. 2 – Haagensen/Stepan (DU) def. Damnajovic/Abreu (ISU) 8-5
•    Flight No. 3 – Abyasova/Fitzgerald (ISU) def. Miley/Presot (MSU) 8-3

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