LAS VEGAS – The sunshine of Las Vegas treated Illinois State well Tuesday morning, as the Redbirds competed for the first time outdoors this spring and picked up a hard-fought 4-3 win over Grand Canyon at the Darling Tennis Center.
"We had a great focus and discipline in doubles today from the first point," ISU head coach Maja Kovacek said. "We were the more aggressive team and that got us the point which proved important in the end. Overall, it was a good first outdoor match for us."
ISU got off to a great start in doubles, with the No. 1 duo of Tijana Zlatanovic and Tara Damnjanovic defeating Grand Canyon's Natasha Puehse and Santa Strombacha by a score of 6-2. The No. 3 tandem of Laura Fitzgerald and Alexandra Abyasova secure the initial point of the match as they cruised to a 6-1 over Valentina Del Marco and Aline Buhr to give the Redbirds the early advantage.
The singles matches were split 3-3, with GCU getting wins at No. 1, 2 and 3. Damnjanovic won at No. 4 for the Redbirds, winning the first set 6-0 before her opponent retired from the match. A win by Penelope Abreu at No. 5 in straight sets gave the Redbirds their third point of the match which left things up to Elena Jankulovska at No. 6. After dropping the first set to Del Marco 4-6, she rallied for a 6-3 win in set two and the ran away with the match in set three winning 6-1 to secure the team victory for the Redbirds.
The Redbirds will wrap up their spring break trip on Friday, when they head to California to compete against UC Irvine with first serve set for noon CT.
Final Results: Illinois State (4), Grand Canyon (3)
Singles competition
1. Natasha Puehse (GCU) def. Tijana Zlatanovic (ILS) 6-4, 3-6, 6-1
2. Fabienne Schmidt (GCU) def. Alexandra Abyasova (ILS) 6-1, 6-3
3. Santa Strombacha (GCU) def. Maria Potsi (ILS) 6-2, 7-6 (5)
4. Tara Damnjanovic (ILS) def. Jana Weiss (GCU) 6-0, 1-0 retired
5. Penelope Abreu (ILS) def. Autum Prudhomme (GCU) 6-3, 6-1
6. Elena Jankulovska (ILS) def. Valentina Del Marco (GCU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Tijana Zlatanovic/Tara Damnjanovic (ILS) def. Natasha Puehse/Santa Strombacha (GCU) 6-2
2. Maria Potsi/Penelope Abreu (ILS) vs. Fabienne Schmidt/Autum Prudhomme (GCU) 5-3 unfinished
3. Alexandra Abyasova/Laura Fitzgerald (ILS) def. Valentina Del Marco/Aline Buhr (GCU) 6-1
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