Redbirds Open Spring Season 2-0 After Sunday Doubleheader Sweep

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – The defending champion MVC women's tennis champion Illinois State began its spring season on Sunday and it was a strong start for the Redbirds, who picked up 6-1 wins over Eastern Illinois and Illinois-Springfield to start the season 2-0 at the Evergreen Racquet Club in Bloomington.

The win in the matinee gave ISU head coach Maja Kovacek her 100th win at the helm of the Redbird program.

"I'm really happy with the outcome of both matches, especially considering we were a little banged up and weren't able to use everyone on the roster," Kovacek said. "I'm proud of the team and how everyone did the best they could in their role today."

The Redbirds rolled to a win over in-state foe Eastern Illinois in the early match of the day, winning all three doubles matches to take the early point. As the action moved to singles, ISU picked up straight-set wins at the No. 1 through No. 5 spots with EIU taking the win at the No. 6 spot for its lone point of the match. The victory gave Kovacek her 100th at Illinois State, adding another milestone to her impressive run as the Redbirds' mentor.

In the evening contest against UIS, it was much the same for the Redbirds who won all three doubles matches in quick fashion to take the early point. Alexandra Abyasova, Tara Damnjanovic, Elena Jankulovska and Silvia Pomarolli each picked up straight-set wins in singles and Tijana Zlatanovic picked up her second win of the day at the No. 1 spot, but needed a third-set tiebreaker to take the victory.

ISU next travels to Wisconsin next Saturday for a match against Milwaukee, with first serve set for noon CT.

MATCH 1 FINAL SCORE: Illinois State (6), Eastern Illinois (1)

Doubles: 
No. 1 Tara Damnjanovic/Tijana Zlatanovic (ILS) def. Elizaveta Bukraba-Ulanova/Christine Gouws (EIU) 6-3
No. 2 Alexandra Abyasova/Silvia Pomarolli (ILS) def. Madeline Monroy/Brittany Steven (EIU) 6-1
No. 3 Othilia Brodin/Elena Jankulovska (ILS) def. Lauren Ellis/Jemma Booth (EIU) 7-5

Singles:
No. 1 Tijana Zlatanovic (ILS) def. Christine Gouws (EIU) 6-4, 6-2
No. 2 Alexandra Abyasova (ILS) def. Elizaveta Bukraba-Ulanova (EIU) 6-3, 6-2
No. 3 Tara Damnjanovic (ILS) def. Jemma Booth (EIU) 6-1, 6-2
No. 4 Silvia Pomarolli (ILS) def. Madeline Monroy (EIU) 6-3, 6-1
No. 5 Elena Jankulovska (ILS) def. Brittany Steven (EIU) 6-4, 6-2
No. 6 Lauren Ellis (EIU) def. Iva Poleksic (ILS) 6-3, 7-6 (7-4)

MATCH 2 FINAL SCORE: Illinois State (6), UIS (1)

Doubles:
No. 1 Tara Damnjanovic/Tijana Zlatanovic (ILS) def. Marianela Landi/Eva Rubio (UIS) 6-3
No. 2 Alexandra Abyasova/Silvia Pomarolli (ILS) def. Franca Busco and Riann Hsu (UIS) 6-2
No. 3 Elena Jankulovska/Nevena Kolarevic (ILS) def. Kamila Kalinowska/Sina Skjelstad (UIS) 6-3

Singles:
No. 1 Tijana Zlatanovic (ILS) def. Eva Rubio (UIS) 3-6, 7-5, 10-4
No. 2 Alexandra Abyasova (ILS) def. Marianela Landi (UIS) 6-2, 6-2
No. 3 Riann Hsu (UIS) def. Nevena Kolarevic (ILS) by retirement 0-6, 3-4
No. 4 Tara Damnjanovic (ILS) def. Sina Skjelstad (UIS) 6-1, 6-2
No. 5 Elena Jankulovska (ILS) def. Franca Busco (UIS) 6-0, 6-1
No. 6 Silvia Pomarolli (ILS) def. Kamila Kalinowska (UIS) 6-2, 6-1

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