VALPARAISO, Ind. – For the second time in as many Missouri Valley Conference seasons (did not play in 2020), the Illinois State women's tennis team finished the regular season undefeated at 5-0 following the Redbirds 6-1 win over Valparaiso Saturday afternoon. Illinois State (17-7, 5-0 MVC) now heads into next weekend MVC Championships as the No. 1 seed, looking to punch their ticket to a second-consecutive NCAA Tournament.
"We did well today to get ahead early in doubles and go on to secure the point," ISU head coach Maja Kovacek said. "Though we were up and down in some spots, we managed to play well enough for a comfortable win."
It was a clean sweep for the Redbirds in doubles action, with all three duos picking up victories to give ISU the early lead. The reigning MVC Doubles Team of the Week Tijana Zlatanovic and Tara Damnjanovic had a fight on their hands at the No. 1 spot, edging out Valpo's top team 7-6 (1). The No. 2 team of Laura Fitzgerald and Penelope Abreu had little trouble at the No. 2 spot with a 6-1 win and Jelena Karla Vujicic and Alicja Zduniak wasted little time in picking up a 6-3 win in the No. 3 match.
That momentum carried over into singles play, with the Redbirds winning five of six singles matches. MVC Singles Player of the Week Zlatanovic was pushed to the limit at the No. 1 spot, needing three sets to pick up a win over Claire Czerwonka. A win by her sister Olivia Czerwonka at the No. 2 spot gave Valpo its only point of the match, but the Redbirds took care of business the rest of the way.Â
A 6-4, 6-4 win by Natalia Bravo at the No. 3 spot, a 6-0, 6-1 win by Laura Arciniegas at the No. 4 spot kept things rolling for the Redbirds. A three-set victory by Penelope Abreu at the No. 5 spot maintained the momentum and a win by Fitzgerald at the No. 6 spot secured the perfect MVC slate for ISU.
The Redbirds will head to Springfield, Missouri, next weekend as the No. 1 seed to compete in the MVC Team Championship, April 23-25. A full bracket will be announced Sunday following the completion of the remainder of the scheduled regular-season matches.
ILLINOIS STATE 6, VALPARAISO 1
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Singles competition:
1. Tijana Zlatanovic (ILS) def. Claire Czerwonka (VALPO) 6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-0
2. Olivia Czerwonka (VALPO) def. Tara Damnjanovic (ILS) 6-2, 6-1
3. Natalia Bravo (ILS) def. Amanda Tabanera (VALPO) 6-4, 6-4
4. Laura Arciniegas (ILS) def. Allison McConnell (VALPO) 6-0, 6-1
5. Penelope Abreu (ILS) def. Mia Bertino (VALPO) 6-4, 6-7 (9), 6-4
6. Laura Fitzgerald (ILS) def. Isabella Schoolcraft (VALPO) 6-3, 6-3
Doubles competition:
1. Tijana Zlatanovic/Tara Damnjanovic (ILS) def. Claire Czerwonka/Olivia Czerwonka (VALPO) 7-6 (1)
2. Laura Fitzgerald/Penelope Abreu (ILS) def. Amanda Tabanera/Isabella Schoolcraft (VALPO) 6-1
3. Jelena Karla Vujicic/Alicja Zduniak (ILS) def. Allison McConnell/Demi Jhaveri (VALPO) 6-3
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