DES MOINES, Iowa – A weekend Missouri Valley Conference road swing in Iowa did not start the way Illinois State wanted it to, as the Redbirds were edged out by the Drake Bulldogs 4-3 at the Knapp Tennis Center in Des Moines.
Drake took the early lead by winning two of three doubles matches to take the doubles point. In singles action, Tijana Zlatanovic improved her MVC career singles record to 8-0 with a straight set win at No. 1 over Liza Petushka. A gritty 7-6, 7-5 win by Maria Potsi at No. 3 and a three-set win by Penelope Abreu at No. 5 gave the Redbirds their three singles points, but wins at No. 2, No. 4 and No. 6 helped them secure the close victory over ISU. Â
The Redbirds continue their weekend road trip at Northern Iowa on Sunday, with first serve set for 10 a.m.
Final Results: Drake (4), Illinois State (3)
Singles:
1. Tijana Zlatanovic (ILS) def. Liza Petushkova (DU) 6-3, 6-3
2. Ines Stephani (DU) def. Alexandra Abyasova (ILS) 4-6, 7-5, 6-3
3. Maria Potsi (ILS) def. Daria Walczak (DU) 7-6 (7-3), 7-5
4. Mille Haagensen (DU) def. Tara Damnjanovic (ILS-W) 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5)
5. Penelope Abreu (ILS) def. Darinka Stepan (DU) 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
6. Kelsey Neville (DU) def. Elena Jankulovska (ILS) 6-0, 6-2
Doubles:
1. Liza Petushkova/Daria Walczak (DU) def. Tijana Zlatanovic/Tara Damnjanovic (ILS) 6-4
2. Penelope Abreu/Maria Potsi (ILS) def. Ines Stephani/Rebecca Ehn (DU) 7-5
3. Mille Haagensen/Darinka Stepan (DU) def. Alexandra Abyasova/Laura Fitzgerald (ILS) 6-3
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