Redbirds Edged Out By Lipscomb, 4-3

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Illinois State women's tennis team continued its trip through the state of Tennessee Sunday as the Redbirds competed against Lipscomb in Nashville. The Redbirds took an early lead in the match, but the Bisons came back to pick up a 4-3 victory over ISU.

"We started off well today, but we did not play consistent enough in every singles spot to come away with a win," ISU head coach Maja Kovacek said.

ISU took the early lead by securing the doubles point in the match. Laura Arciniegas and Othilia Brodin teamed up at the No. 3 to pick up a 6-3 victory and the No. 1 tandem of Tijana Zlatanovic and Tara Damnjanovic defeated Lipscomb's Kate Popova and Sasha Dobranos by a score of 6-3 to take the first team point of the match. 

The Redbirds kept the early momentum and extended the lead to 2-0 when Zlatanovic won over Popova at No. 1 singles in straight sets 6-3, 6-2. However, the Bisons won the next four singles matches to secure the victory before Arciniegas won in straight sets at No. 5 to give the Redbirds their third point of the day.

Illinois State wraps up its tour of Tennessee with a Wednesday match at Tennessee-Chattanooga. First serve is set for 2 p.m. CT at the UTC Tennis Center.

RESULTS: LIPSCOMB 4, ILLINOIS STATE 3
 
Singles competition:
1. Tijana Zlatanovic (ILS) def. Kate Popova (LIP) 6-3, 6-2
2. Emma Zakordoniec (LIP) def. Tara Damnjanovic (ILS) 6-3, 6-2
3. Sasha Dobranos (LIP) def. Natalia Bravo (ILS) 6-1, 6-3
4. Liza Diachenko (LIP) def. Penelope Abreu (ILS) 6-0, 6-4
5. Laura Arciniegas (ILS) def. Maddox Bandy (LIP) 6-1, 6-4
6. Eleanor Chapman (LIP) def. Laura Fitzgerald (ILS) 6-3, 7-5

Doubles competition:
1. Tijana Zlatanovic/Tara Damnjanovic (ILS) def. Kate Popova/Sasha Dobranos (LIP) 6-3
2. Emma Zakordoniec/Liza Diachenko (LIP) vs. Natalia Bravo/Laura Fitzgerald (ILS) 4-5 unfinished
3. Laura Arciniegas/Othilia Brodin (ILS) def. Maddox Bandy/Perri Howard (LIP) 6-3

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