Illinois State Picked First in 2022 MVC Preseason Poll

ST. LOUIS – After securing a second-straight Missouri Valley Conference regular-season title in 2021, the Illinois State women's tennis team has been selected by league coaches as the favorite in the 2022 MVC preseason poll. The Redbirds received 47 total points and five first-place votes to finish just ahead of 2021 tournament champion Drake in second with 44 points and the final two first-place votes.

Bradley came in third with 33 total points, with Valparaiso (23 points) and Missouri State (22 points) in fourth and fifth, respectively, with only one point separating the two. Stony Brook notched the sixth spot with a total of 15 points and UNI comes in seventh, recording 12 points in this season's preseason poll.

The Redbirds return six letterwinners from last year's regular-season championship squad, and welcome in two newcomers this year. Sophomore Tijana Zlatanovic leads the group, after being named the MVC Player and Freshman of the Year last season. A four-time MVC Player of the Week selection during the 2021 season, Zlatanovic dominated at the No. 1 spot for the Redbirds going 17-5 overall including a 5-0 mark in MVC action. Senior Penelope Abreu also returns, after being named MVC All-Conference at the No. 5 singles position with a 13-7 overall record in 2021.

The fall was busy for the Redbirds, who competed in five tournaments including the 2021 MVC Individual Championships. That was a successful weekend for the Redbirds, who came away with four championships in the annual fall tournament. The duo Alexandra Abyasova and Laura Fitzgerald picked up a big win in Flight 3 doubles come away with the title on the first of the day for the Redbirds. Zlatanovic (Flight 1), Abreu (Flight 6) and Othilia Brodin (Flight 7) each won their singles finals matches to secure a total of four championships for the Redbirds. 

Zlatanovic and Abyasova capped off impressive fall seasons by advancing to the prestigious ITA Midwest Super Regional.

Illinois State begins its spring dual meet schedule on Friday, January 21, against North Dakota. The Redbirds won't play their first MVC opponent until March 27, when they host rival Bradley at the Evergreen Racquet Club.

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