Redbirds Roll To A 6-1 Win Over Eastern Illinois

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Illinois State rolled to its third win in a row, as the Redbirds (7-3) took the early doubles point and then cruised in singles action to a 6-1 win over in-state foe Eastern Illinois (0-9) Saturday afternoon at the Evergreen Racquet Club.

ISU got off to a strong start in doubles play, with the No. 1 team of Tijana Zlatanovic and Tara Damnjanovic wasting little time to pick up a 6-1 win. Shortly after on court No. 3, the duo of Laura Fitzgerald and Alexandra Abyasova picked up a 6-3 win to improve to 14-2 on the season as a duo and secure the doubles point.

Elena Jankulovska gave the Redbirds their second point of the match, courtesy of a quick 6-1, 6-1 defeat at No. 6 singles to make it 2-0 in favor of ISU. EIU then picked up a win at No. 1 to secure its first and only point of the match, before Penelope Abreu earned a 6-4, 6-2 win at No. 5 to make it 3-1. A victory at No. 2 by Abyasova by a final of 7-5, 6-1 then clinched the win for the Redbirds and wins for Maria Potsi at No. 3 and Damnjanovic in a tiebreaker at No. 4 wrapped up the win for the Redbirds.

Illinois State hits the road Sunday for a match in West Lafayette, Indiana, against the Purdue Boilermakers with first serve set for 2 p.m. at the Schwartz Tennis Center.

Final Results: Illinois State (6), Eastern Illinois (1)

Singles competition
1. PAPAVASILOPOULOS, R. (EIU) def. Tijana Zlatanovic (ILS) 6-2, 6-4
2. Alexandra Abyasova (ILS) def. BUKRABA-ULANOVA, E. (EIU) 7-5, 6-1
3. Maria Potsi (ILS) def. GOUWS, Christine (EIU) 1-6, 6-1, 6-3
4. Tara Damnjanovic (ILS) def. STEVEN, Brittany (EIU) 7-5, 7-6 (10-8)
5. Penelope Abreu (ILS) def. ELLIS, Lauren (EIU) 6-4, 6-2
6. Elena Jankulovska (ILS) def. PEREZ-KORINKO, C. (EIU) 6-1, 6-1

Doubles competition
1. Tijana Zlatanovic/Tara Damnjanovic (ILS) def. PAPAVASILOPOULOS, R./STEVEN, Brittany (EIU) 6-1
2. Maria Potsi/Penelope Abreu (ILS) vs. BUKRABA-ULANOVA, E./GOUWS, Christine (EIU) 3-4, unfinished
3. Laura Fitzgerald/Alexandra Abyasova (ILS) def. ELLIS, Lauren/SNYDER, Kaitlyn (EIU) 6-3

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