Redbirds Win Three Titles On Sunday At Redbird Invitational

NORMAL, Ill. – On the final day of the 2023 Redbird Invitational, the Illinois State women's tennis team camp away with three titles on Sunday as the Redbirds kicked off their fall tournament season at the Gregory Street Courts in Normal.

"We had another competitive day out there," ISU head coach Maja Kovacek said. "I'm happy with Tijana and how she bounced back today and played fantastic doubles and singles matches. Her and Lana have a ton of potential as a tandem. Silvia has showed a lot of improvement in doubles and I'm really happy for her and Nevena to pick up the win today. Overall, it was a great first tournament for us."

The day began with doubles play, as the top two Redbird teams each took home titles from the season's opening tournament. The duo of Tijana Zlatanovic and Lana Caculovic rolled to an 8-2 victory over Czerwonka/Silva from Valparaiso to take home the crown in Flight 1. Then in Flight 2, Nevena Kolarevic and Silvia Pomarolli picked up an 8-5 win over Belberka/Malazonia from UIC to win a title of their own. 

Once the action moved to singles, Kolarevic continued her strong play and won a hard-fought three-set title match over Moira Silva from Valpo by a score of 6-4, 3-6, 10-4 in Flight 2 to take the title. Zlatanovic bounced back from a tough loss Saturday to take third place in Flight 1 via a 6-3, 6-2 win over Danielle Shwed from Eastern Michigan. Nuria Sanz also picked up a win on the final day of action, defeating Ethel Li from Chicago State in Flight 5 to finish in 5th place overall.

The Redbirds are back in action next weekend in Springfield, Missouri, as they compete in the 2023 Missouri Valley Conference Individual Championships hosted by Missouri State. Action begins Friday and will wrap up with championship matches on Sunday.

RESULTS:

Flight 1 Singles:
Tijana Zlatanovic (ISU) def. Danielle Shwed (EMU) 6-3, 6-2 (3rd place match)

Flight 2 Singles:
Nevena Kolarevic (ISU) def. Moira Silva (Valpo) 6-4, 3-6, 10-4 (championship match)

Flight 3 Singles:
Kseniia Saenko (EMU) def. Lana Caculovic (ISU) 6-3, 6-2 (championship match)

Flight 4 Singles:
Mayu Ushio (UIC) def. Silvia Pomarolli (ISU) 6-3, 1-6, 10-4 (championship match)

Flight 5 Singles:
Nuria Sanz (ISU) def. Ethel Li (CSU) 6-0, 7-5 (5th place match)

Flight 1 Doubles:
Zlatanovic/Caculovic (ISU) def. Czerwonka/Silva (Valpo) 8-2 (championship match)

Flight 2 Doubles:
Kolarevic/Pomarolli (ISU) def. Belberka/Malazonia (UIC) 8-5 (championship match)

Flight 3 Doubles:
Talavera/Lindahl (UST) def. Sanz/Rodrigo (ISU) 8-6 (3rd place match)

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