URBANDALE, Iowa – Illinois State wrapped up its opening weekend of spring tennis Saturday in Urbadale, Iowa, as host Iowa State proved to be too much for the Redbirds and handed them their first loss of the spring, 7-0.
The day began with a pair of extremely close doubles matches that ultimately decided the doubles point. Both the No. 1 doubles team of Tijana Zlatanovic and Tara Damnjanovic and the No. 2 team of Maria Potsi and Penelope Abreu took their matches to tiebreakers, but the Cyclones ultimately pulled out the close wins to secure the first point of the day.
From there, the Redbirds could not rally as Iowa State won each of the six singles matches to come away with the sweep on the day. Potsi nearly pulled out a win at No. 3 singles for the Redbirds, but was defeated in the tiebreaker 10-7 in heartbreaking fashion.
The Redbirds return home to host their first two matches of the year next weekend. ISU will host Illinois-Springfield on Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. and Chicago State on Saturday beginning at 4:30 p.m. at the Evergreen Racquet Club.Â
FINAL RESULTS: Iowa State (7), Illinois State (0)
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Singles competition
1. #27 Thasaporn Naklo (ISU) def. Tijana Zlatanovic (ILS) 6-4, 6-1
2. Ange Oby Kajuru (ISU) def. Alexandra Abyasova (ILS) 6-1, 6-0
3. Chie Kezuka (ISU) def. Maria Potsi (ILS) 6-4, 4-6, 1-0 (10-7)
4. Anna Supapitch Kuearum (ISU) def. Tara Damnjanovic (ILS) 6-1, 6-1
5. Christin Hsieh (ISU) def. Elena Jankulovska (ILS) 6-4, 6-1
6. Sofia Cabezas (ISU) def. Penelope Abreu (ILS) 6-4, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Christin Hsieh/Thasaporn Naklo (ISU) def. Tijana Zlatanovic/Tara Damnjanovic (ILS) 7-6 (7-3)
2. Anna Supapitch Kuearum/Sofia Cabezas (ISU) def. Maria Potsi/Penelope Abreu (ILS) 7-6 (7-5)
3. Chie Kezuka/Ange Oby Kajuru (ISU) def. Laura Fitzgerald/Alexandra Abyasova (ILS) 6-2
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