CHICAGO – After getting off to a good start by winning the doubles point, Illinois State could not hold off UIC Sunday at the XS Tennis Village in Chicago as the flames won four of six singles matches to narrowly defeat the Redbirds 4-3.
"This is a tough one to swallow. We put ourselves in great position to win and then let it slip. Credit to UIC for playing better as the match went on," ISU head coach Maja Kovacek said.
ISU jumped out to the early lead with wins at No. 1 doubles by the duo of Tijana Zlatanovic and Tara Damnjanovic and the No. 3 team of Alexandra Abyasova and Laura Fitzgerald to secure the first point of the match.
A 6-3, 6-2 win at No. 4 singles by Damnjanovic over Marina Hermanny de Figueiredo picked up another point for the 'Birds and a 6-1, 7-5 win at No. 6 by Penelope Abreu over Lea Forste-Dinell made things close. However, wins at No. 1 through No. 3 singles and a win at No. 5 gave the Flames the four points needed to come away with the victory.
The Redbirds return to action Saturday, February 19, for a 4 p.m. match at Omaha.
Final Results: UIC (4), Illinois State (3)
Singles competition
1. Agnes Gustafsson (UIC) def. Tijana Zlatanovic (ISU) 6-3, 6-1
2. Tamara Malazonia (UIC) def. Alexandra Abyasova (ISU) 0-6, 7-5, 6-3
3. Ana Jover (UIC) def. Maria Potsi (ISU) 6-1, 6-1
4. Tara Damnjanovic (ISU) def. Marina Hermanny de Figueiredo (UIC) 6-3, 6-2
5. Dominika Hrabalova (UIC) def. Elena Jankulovska (ISU) 6-1, 6-3
6. Penelope Abreu (ISU) def. Lea Forste-Dinell (UIC) 6-1, 7-5
Doubles competition
1. Tara Damnjanovic/Tijana Zlatanovic (ISU) def. Agnes Gustafsson/Ana Jover (UIC) 6-4
2. Penelope Abreu/Maria Potsi (ISU) vs. Marina Hermanny de Figueiredo/Dominika Hrabalova (UIC) 5-5 DNF
3. Alexandra Abyasova/Laura Fitzgerald (ISU) def. Tamara Malazonia/Lea Forste-Dinell (UIC) 6-4
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