Redbirds Pick Up Wins On First Day of UTR Circuit Event at Illinois

URBANA, Ill. – Members of the Illinois State women's tennis team opened their fall season on Saturday at the Atkins Tennis Center, as Illinois hosted a UTR College Circuit. More than 30 players will compete unattached in the three-day event, which features both doubles and singles draws.

"We had a good first day out there, everyone picked up a win and played a lot of tennis," ISU head coach Maja Kovacek said. "This is the type of competition we need to challenge ourselves and get better."

In doubles action, a pair of teams picked up wins to advance to the quarterfinals as the duo of Sylvia Pomarolli and Alexandra Abyasova picked up a win and newcomer Zoe Limaparis paired with veteran Elena Jankulovska for a 6-4 victory. However, both squads were defeated in the quarterfinals and will head to the back draw to compete on Sunday.

In singles action, Nevena Kolarevic rolled to 6-0, 6-1 win in the Round of 32 and Abyasova also picked up a win, coming back from a first-set loss to win the second and then come away with a 10-8 win in the third-set tiebreaker. Both were then defeated in the quarterfinal round but will compete again Sunday.

Limparis, Pomarolli, Jankulovska and Tara Damnjanovic each bounced back from first-round defeats to win their back draw first round matches and advance to the quarterfinals on Sunday at 10 a.m.

RESULTS:

Doubles Main Draw (Round of 16)
Silvia Pomarolli/Alexandra Abyasova def. G. Guenther/N. Bosesing 6-3
Zoe Limparis/Elena Jankulovska def. E. Casati/K. Treiber 6-4
S. Mannix/M. Schmidt def. Tara Damnjanovic/Nevena Kolarevic 6-3

Doubles Main Draw (Quarterfinals)
R. Seccia/J. Frazier def. Silvia Pomarolli/Alexandra Abyasova 6-3
K. Duong/M. Heuser def. Zoe Limparis/Elena Jankulovska 6-3

Singles Main Draw (Round of 32)
Nevena Kolarevic def. E. Casati 6-0, 6-1
Alexandra Abyasova def. B. Pokorna 2-6, 6-3, 10-8
M. Heuser def. Zoe Limparis 6-3, 6-3
J. Frazier def. Tara Damnjanovic 6-0, 6-4
K. Treiber def. Silvia Pomarolli 6-3, 6-4
V. Martinez def. Elena Jankulovska 6-3, 6-0

Singles Main Draw (Round of 16)
D. Hayashida def. Nevena Kolarevic 6-2, 7-6
K. Ferrari def. Alexandra Abyasova 6-0, 6-3

Singles Back Draw (Round of 16)
Zoe Limparis def. B. O'Neal 6-4, 6-2
Tara Damnjanovic def. I. May 6-4, 6-3
Silvia Pomarolli def. R. Seccia 6-3, 6-1    
Elena Jankulovska def. N. Compton 6-4, 6-2 

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