Redbirds To Play For Five Titles On Sunday At Redbird Invitational

NORMAL, Ill. – The second day of the Redbird Invitational at the Gregory Street Courts in Normal was a great one for Illinois State, as the 'Birds will play in five finals matches on the final day of competition on Sunday.

"I thought we had another great day," ISU head coach Maja Kovacek said. "We're definitely learning a lot out there and are growing as a team. I'm excited going to the last day of a tournament with five finals."

The day began with doubles action, with the top two Redbird duos each advancing to finals matches on Sunday. In Flight 1, Tijana Zlatanovic and Lana Caculovic defeated the team of Sirbu/Hailey from Bradley, 8-2, to move onto Sunday's championship match. In Flight 2, Nevena Kolarevic and Silvia Pomarolli picked up a victory over St. Thomas' El Nemr/Tentu by a score of 8-4 to also advance to the Sunday's title tilt. The Flight 3 team of Nuria Sanz and Sofia Rodrigo dropped their match 8-4, but will play for third place to wrap up the invitational.

In singles action, Kolarevic defeated Tamara Malazonia of UIC by a score of 6-3, 6-2 in Flight 2 to move into the championship match and in Flight 3, Caculovic won in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 over UIC's Camille Berberka to move into the finals. Pomarolli also punched her ticket to the finals in Flight 4 with a win over Addison Brown from Eastern Illinois by a score of 6-2, 6-2. 

In other action, Zlatanovic will play for third place on Sunday after falling in a tiebreaker in Flight 1 Saturday, and Sanz will play for the consolation title in Flight 5 after her 6-4, 6-3 win over UIC's Anais Brion.

The Redbird Invitational will wrap up at 9 a.m. Sunday morning with doubles,followed by singles in the afternoon.

RESULTS:

Flight 1 Singles:
Olivia Czerwonka (Valpo) def. Tijana Zlatanovic (ISU) 6-4, 3-6, 10-8

Flight 2 Singles:
Nevena Kolarevic (ISU) def. Tamara Malazonia (UIC) 6-3, 6-2

Flight 3 Singles:
Lana Caculovic (ISU) def. Camille Berberka (UIC) 6-3, 6-4

Flight 4 Singles:
Silvia Pomarolli (ISU) def. Addison Brown (EIU) 6-2, 6-2

Flight 5 Singles:
Nuria Sanz (ISU) def. Anais Brion (UIC) 6-4, 6-3

Flight 1 Doubles:
Zlatanovic/Caculovic (ISU) def. Sirbu/Hailey (Bradley) 8-2

Flight 2 Doubles:
Kolarevic/Pomarolli (ISU) def. El Nemr/Tentu (UST) 8-4

Flight 3 Doubles:
Sedovich/Alvarez (CSU) def. Sanz/Rodrigo (ISU) 8-4

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