ST. LOUIS – After compiling a 4-1 conference record to earn the No. 2 seed in this weekend's Missouri Valley Conference Tennis Championship, Illinois State collected a slew of all-conference honors Thursday night from the league office. The Redbirds had three singles players honored and two of its three doubles teams earned honors from the MVC.
The 2022 All-Conference team is comprised of one individual from each of the six singles positions, as well as three doubles teams from each of the doubles positions. In addition, six individuals were chosen regardless of position played and were named to the "All-Select" Team. Individuals named all-conference in doubles are also eligible to be named to the all-select team in singles. The All-Conference and All-Select teams are chosen by a vote of league coaches.
The ISU representatives chosen for their singles play were Maria Potsi at No. 3, Penelope Abreu at No. 5 and Tijana Zlatanovic as an all-select representative. Potsi was a perfect 4-0 during MVC play at the No. 3 spot for the Redbirds and was 18-6 overall in singles action during the season. Abreu, who repeats as the league's all-conference selection at No. 5 after winning the award in the same position last year, was a perfect 5-0 for the Redbirds during conference play and holds a 19-8 overall singles record during the season.
Zlatanovic was one of six "All-Select" team members, with her 4-1 record at the No. 1 spot for the Redbirds. In her career, Zlatanovic is now 9-1 at the top spot of the Redbird lineup in Valley play. Overall, Zlatanovic has posted a 17-14 record in singles play for the Redbirds and she was named the leagues Singles Player of the Week four times in 2022.
The No. 1 doubles team of Zlatanovic and Tara Damnjanovic repeated as the league's top doubles tandem, after winning the honor at the No. 1 spot last year. The duo won MVC Doubles Team of the Week honors three times during the 2022 season and posted a 4-1 record at the No. 1 spot during conference play. Overall, the duo is 14-7 in doubles action, and they have won seven of their last ten matches overall.
Potsi and Abreu teamed up at the No. 2 spot for the Redbirds and went a perfect 5-0 in MVC matches to take home all-conference honors. The tandem was named the MVC Doubles Team of the Week on April 5 after their performances in wins over Saint Louis and Missouri State. Overall, they are 9-4 as a team in 2022 and they have won their last six matches heading into the conference championship.
The No. 2 seed Redbirds will take on the No. 7 seed Missouri State Bears in the quarterfinals of the 2022 Missouri Valley Conference Tennis Championship on Friday, April 22, in Des Moines, Iowa, at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center. First serve is set for Noon.
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