BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – In their final non-conference match of the spring, Illinois State (11-5) picked up a 5-2 win over Saint Louis (10-6) Wednesday afternoon at the Evergreen Racquet Club to extend its winning streak to four matches in a row.
"We played with a lot of confidence today and kept our composure when we needed to," ISU head coach Maja Kovacek said. "We were pushed in every spot, and they had some big servers and competed hard. I'm really happy with the team and how our form is looking at this point in the season."
The Redbirds scored the first point of the day after securing two wins in the doubles competition. The No. 3 duo of Laura Fitzgerald and Alexandra Abyasova rolled to a 6-0 win to improved to 19-2 overall this season as a tandem. The doubles point was earned when Penelope Abreu and Maria Potsi earned a 6-3 victory at No. 2 to give ISU the advantage heading into singles competition.
Reigning MVC Singles Player of the Week Tijana Zlatanovic gave the Redbirds their second point of the match, after securing a 6-3, 6-2 at No. 1. A win by Saint Louis on court No. 5 trimmed the Redbird lead to 2-1, but 6-1, 6-3 win by Elena Jankulovska at No. 6 extended the advantage to 3-1. A win by Potsi on court No. 3 by a score of 6-3, 7-5 over Mariona Perez clinched the fourth point and the match for the Redbirds. Tara Damnjanovic added the final singles win of the match for the Redbirds, as she battled to a three-set win over Lucija Faj at No. 4.
The Redbirds continue their homestand on Sunday, April 3, when resume Missouri Valley Conference play against Missouri State at 10 a.m. at the Evergreen Racquet Club.
Final Results: Illinois State (5), Saint Louis (2)
Singles competition
1. Tijana Zlatanovic (ILS) def. Norhan Hesham (SLU) 6-3, 6-2
2. Elizabeth Mintusova (SLU) def. Alexandra Abyasova (ILS) 7-6 (13-11), 6-2
3. Maria Potsi (ILS) def. Mariona Perez (SLU) 6-3, 7-5
4. Tara Damnjanovic (ILS) def. Lucija Faj (SLU) 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
5. Jessica Stefan (SLU) def. Penelope Abreu (ILS) 6-3, 6-2
6. Elena Jankulovska (ILS) def. Mya Spencer (SLU) 6-1, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Tijana Zlatanovic/Tara Damnjanovic (ILS) vs. Elizabeth Mintusova/Mariona Perez (SLU) 4-5, unfinished
2. Maria Potsi/Penelope Abreu (ILS) def. Norhan Hesham/Lucija Faj (SLU) 6-3
3. Laura Fitzgerald/Alexandra Abyasova (ILS) def. Jessica Stefan/Mya Spencer (SLU) 6-0
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