Redbirds Roll To Undefeated Singles Mark On Day 1 Of MVC Individual Championships

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Illinois State got off to a great start on the first day of the 2022 MVC Individual Championships, winning 8-of-10 matches played on the first day of competition at the Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield, Missouri.

After dropping two of three doubles matches to start the day, the Redbirds rallied to go 7-0 in their singles matches to head into day two of the championships in great shape.

"I'm really happy with our singles play today and thought showed a lot of toughness out there," ISU head coach Maja Kovacek said. "It was difficult from a coaching perspective, with several players spread out across the facility at the same time, but everyone stepped up when they needed to and supported each other. It was a total team effort out there today."

In doubles action, the duo of Alexandra Abyasova and Silvia Pomarolli picked up and opening-day win in Flight No. 1 over the team of Robinson and Lukacova from Missouri State by a score of 8-3. After suffering setbacks in Flight No. 1 and No. 3, the focus shifted to singles play where every Redbird picked up a win.

In Flight No. 1, returning All-Valley selection Tijana Zlatanovic bounced back from a loss in the first set to defeat Valparaiso's Olivia Czerwonka 2-6, 6-3, 6-4. In Flight No. 2, Abyasova also had to overcome some adversity in her match against Anastasiya Zholdakova of Belmont as she dropped the first set 2-6 but came back to win the final 6-3 and 6-0 to pick up the victory. Newcomer Nevena Kolarevic made light work of Bradley's Kirstin Hailey 6-0, 6-2, to earn a victory in Flight No. 3 and veteran Tara Damnjanovic fought back after dropping set two to Madalena Andrade of Bradley to pick up a 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 win in Flight No. 4.

Pomarolli defeated Belmont's Taylor Trondson in straight sets 6-2, 6-3 to advance in Flight No. 5 and Elena Jankulovska wasted little time in defeating UNI's Sreelasya Mylavarapu 6-1, 6-2, in Flight No. 6. The final singles win came from freshman Zoe Limparis, who rolled to a 6-1, 6-1, victory over Amy Henning of Missouri State in Flight No. 7

Play will resume at 9 a.m. Saturday for the second round of matches at the Cooper Tennis Complex.

RESULTS

Singles:
•    Flight No. 1 –Tijana Zlatanovic (ILS) def. Olivia Czerwonka (VU) 2-6, 6-3, 6-4
•    Flight No. 2 – Alexandra Abyasova (ILS) def. Anastasiya Zholdakova (BEL) 2-6, 6-3, 6-0
•    Flight No. 3 – Nevena Kolarevic (ILS) def. Maroy Houston (MOST) 6-0, 6-2
•    Flight No. 4 – Tara Damjanovic (ILS) def. Madalena Andrade (BRAD) 6-2, 3-6, 7-5
•    Flight No. 5 – Silvia Pomarolli (ILS) def. Taylor Trondson (BEL) 6-2, 6-3
•    Flight No. 6 – Elena Jankulovska (ILS) def. Sreelasya Mylavarapu (UNI) 6-1, 6-2
•    Flight No. 7 – Zoe Limparis (ILS) def. Amy Henning (MOST) 6-1, 6-1

Doubles:
•    Flight No. 1 – Andrade/Hailey (BRAD) def. Zlatanovic/Damnjanovic (ILS) 8-5
•    Flight No. 2 – Abyasova/Pomarolli (ILS) def. Robinson/Lukacova (MOST) 8-3
•    Flight No. 3 – Zholdakova/Roberts (BEL) def. Kolarevic/Jankulovska (ILS) 8-1 

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