BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Sunday's match between I-74 rivals Illinois State and Bradley opened Missouri Valley Conference play for both squads, and it was the Redbirds (10-5) who took the early advantage in the league standings with a 6-1 win over the Braves (6-11) at the Evergreen Racquet Club.
"It was a great effort for us today in every spot," ISU head coach Maja Kovacek said. "We were focused and confident throughout the whole match and that made the difference in a few close second sets."
The Redbirds took the early advantage with a clean sweep of the doubles matches. The No. 1 duo of Tijana Zlatanovic and Tara Damnjanovic picked up a 6-3 win and the No. 2 team of Maria Potsi and Penelope Abreu also earned a 6-3 win. To make a sweep, the No. 3 tandem of Laura Fitzgerald and Alexandra Abyasova gutted out a 7-5 win to give the Redbirds the first point of the match.
Potsi then gave the Redbird their first singles point of the match, with an efficient 6-1, 6-0 win over Kirsten Hailey at No. 3 to make it 2-0 in favor of the Redbirds. A 6-4, 6-2 win by Damnjanovic over Maria Bezmenova at No. 4 made it 3-0 in favor of the Redbirds and Abreu clinched the win for ISU with 6-3, 7-6 (7-0) win over Nina Marjanovic at No. 5. Wins by Tijana Zlatanovic in straight sets at No. 1 and a three-set win by Abyasova at No. 2 rounded out the 6-1 win for the Redbirds.
ISU continues its homestand on Wednesday, March 30, for a non-conference midweek contest against Saint Louis, with first serve set for noon.
Final Results: Illinois State (6), Bradley (1)
Singles competition
1. Tijana Zlatanovic (ILS-W) def. Lojpur, Bozana (BRAD) 6-3, 7-6 (7-4)
2. Alexandra Abyasova (ILS-W) def. Hailey, Kirstin (BRAD) 6-1, 2-6, 6-3
3. Maria Potsi (ILS-W) def. Andrade, Madalena (BRAD) 6-1, 6-0
4. Tara Damnjanovic (ILS-W) def. Bezmenova, Maria (BRAD) 6-4, 6-2
5. Penelope Abreu (ILS-W) def. Marjanovic, Nina (BRAD) 6-3, 7-6 (7-0)
6. Perlwitz, Nikki (BRAD) def. Elena Jankulovska (ILS-W) 7-5, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Tijana Zlatanovic/Tara Damnjanovic (ILS-W) def. Andrade, Madalena/Hailey, Kirstin (BRAD) 6-3
2. Penelope Abreu/Maria Potsi (ILS-W) def. Lojpur, Bozana/Perlwitz, Nikki (BRAD) 6-3
3. Laura Fitzgerald/Alexandra Abyasova (ILS-W) def. Marjanovic, Nina/Bezmenova, Maria (BRAD) 7-5
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