BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Illinois State had an efficient Sunday morning performance at the Evergreen Racquet Club, as the Redbirds (12-5) swept the shorthanded Missouri State Bears (0-14) by a score of 7-0.
Blink and fans may have missed the doubles matches, as the No. 1 and No. 2 teams each wasted little time in picking up wins. The No. 2 duo of Maria Potsi and Penelope Abreu cruised to a 6-1 win over Missouri State's Sandra Lukacova and Kate Miley. Right behind them, the No. 1 tandem of Tijana Zlatanovic and Tara Damnjanovic picked up a 6-2 win versus Mara Presot and Mary Houston to secure the doubles point for the Redbirds.
Potsi was equally efficient in her singles match at No. 3, winning in straight sets 6-2, 6-4 over Miley. At No. 5, Abreu battled to a 7-5 win in set one and then took control winning set two 6-2 to keep things rolling for the Redbirds. After falling behind in her match, Zlatanovic won the second set 6-1 and then breezed through a 10-1 win in the third-set tiebreaker to pick up a win at No. 1. After starting a bit later than their teammates, Alexandra Abyasova and Damnjanovic each picked up straight-set victories to complete the sweep and move ISU to 2-0 in Missouri Valley Conference play.
The Redbirds are back in action next weekend for an Iowa road swing, as they take on Drake on Saturday and Northern Iowa on Sunday for a pair of crucial MVC contests.
Final Results: Illinois State (7), Missouri State (0)
Singles competition
1. Tijana Zlatanovic (ILS) def. Juliette Robinson (MSU) 4-6, 6-1, 10-1
2. Alexandra Abyasova (ILS) def. Mary Houston (MSU) 6-2, 6-2
3. Maria Potsi (ILS) def. Kate Miley (MSU) 6-2, 6-4
4. Tara Damnjanovic (ILS) def. Sandra Lukacova (MSU) 6-1, 6-1
5. Penelope Abreu (ILS) def. Mara Presot (MSU) 7-5, 6-2
6. Elena Jankulovska (ILS) def. No player (MSU), by default
Doubles competition
1. Tijana Zlatanovic/Tara Damnjanovic (ILS) def. Mara Presot/Mary Houston (MSU) 6-2
2. Maria Potsi/Penelope Abreu (ILS) def. Sandra Lukacova/Kate Miley (MSU) 6-1
3. Laura Fitzgerald/Alexandra Abyasova (ILS) def. No player/No player (MSU), by default
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
