URBANDALE, Iowa – The spring season opener was as close as it could get for Illinois State, but thanks to a gritty win by Maria Potsi at No. 3 singles gave the Redbirds a narrow 4-3 win over North Dakota in their first of two matches on the weekend.
"This was a hard-fought win and we competed very well in every spot," ISU head coach Maja Kovacek said. "Maria came through in a big way saving five match points to secure the fourth point today. It was a good way to open the season and gain confidence going into tomorrow's matchup with Iowa State."
ISU jumped out to an early lead by winning the doubles point. The dynamic duo of Tijana Zlatanovic and Tara Damnjanovic picked up right where they left off in 2021 with a win at No. 1 doubles 6-2 over Sapir Sela and Andrea Jansson of UND. The No. 3 doubles pairing of Alexandra Abyasova and Laura Fitzgerald, fresh off a tremendous fall as a duo, picked up their first win of the year with a 6-2 victory at No. 3 to secure the first point of the match.
Abyasova won in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 over UND's Andrea Jansson to pick up the second point for ISU and a win by Penelope Abreu at No. 6 over Angela Georgieva by a score of 6-3, 6-3 gave the Redbirds their third point. Potsi battled to put the match away for the Redbirds after dropping the first set in her match. In set two, Potsi saved five match points in the second set to win 7-6 (4) and then cruised to a 6-2 win in set three to secure the victory for the Redbirds.
ISU returns to action tomorrow at 11 a.m. against Iowa State to wrap up the opening weekend of matches.
FINAL RESULTS: Illinois State (4), North Dakota (3)
Singles:
1. Sapir Sela (UND) def. Tijana Zlatanovic (ILS) 6-4, 7-5
2. Alexandra Abyasova (ILS) def. Andrea Jansson (UND) 6-3, 6-4
3. Maria Potsi (ILS) def. Allie Ochotorena (UND) 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2
4. Nore Heinitz (UND) def. Tara Damnjanovic (ILS) 2-6, 7-5, 6-1
5. Lucia Rizza (UND) def. Elena Jankulovska (ILS) 6-2, 6-4
6. Penelope Abreu (ILS) def. Angela Georgieva (UND) 6-3, 6-3
Doubles:
1. Tijana Zlatanovic/Tara Damnjanovic (ILS) def. Sapir Sela/Andrea Jansson (UND) 6-2
2. Lucia Rizza/Allie Ochotorena (UND) def. Maria Potsi/Penelope Abreu (ILS) 6-4
3. Alexandra Abyasova/Laura Fitzgerald (ILS) def. Nore Heinitz/Charlotte Bowles (UND) 6-2
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