Redbirds Fall To The Illini In Sunday Matinee, 5-2

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – It was a Sunday afternoon matchup between in-state foes at the Atkins Tennis Center, as Illinois hosted Illinois State and it was the Illini who came out on top by a final of 5-2 in non-conference action.

"I'm really proud of how we competed today," ISU head coach Maja Kovacek said. "Tara (Damnjanovic) and Nevena (Kolarevic) played some great tennis to pick up those singles wins. These are the type of matches we need to get better as a team and prepare for the MVC. The outcome is encouraging as we look ahead to our next match against Northern Illinois on Wednesday."

The Illini took the early lead by winning the doubles point, with victories at No. 2 and No. 3. The No. 1 doubles team of Tijana Zlatanovic and Tara Damnjanovic were in a close one, but it was left unfinished when Illinois clinched the second of three wins to secure the first point of the match.

The Redbirds picked up singles wins at the No. 3 and No. 4 spots, as Nevena Kolarevic and Damnjanovic both picked up hard-fought victories. Kolarevic rallied at the No. 3 spot after dropping the first set to Illinois' Kasia Treiber to win the next set 6-3 and then the third deciding set 7-5 to pick up the win. Damnjanovic's victory at No. 4 was less stressful, as she rolled to a 6-2, 6-2 win over Violeta Martinez. However, the Illini picked up wins on the other four courts to come away with the 5-2 victory.

ISU returns to action on Wednesday, Feb. 15, at home against Northern Illinois with first serve set for Noon CT at the Evergreen Racquet Club in Bloomington.

FINAL SCORE: Illinois (5), Illinois State (2)

Doubles: 
No. 1 Emily Casati/Josie Frazier (ILL) vs. Tara Damnjanovic/Tijana Zlatanovic (ILS) 5-4, unfinished
No. 2 Ashley Yeah/Violeta Martinez (ILL) def. Alexandra Abyasova/Silvia Pomarolli 6-2
No. 3 Kasia Treiber/Kida Ferrari (ILL) def. Elena Jankulovska/Nevena Kolarevic (ILS) 6-4

Singles:
No. 1 Ashley Yeah (ILL) def. Alexandra Abyasova (ILS) 6-2, 6-1
No. 2 Josie Frazier (ILL) def. Tijana Zlatanovic (ILS) 7-5, 6-1
No. 3 Nevena Kolarevic (ILS) def. Kasia Treiber (ILL) def.  6-7(4), 6-3, 7-5
No. 4 Tara Damnjanovic (ILS) def. Violeta Martinez (ILL) 6-2, 6-2
No. 5 Kida Ferrari (ILL) def. Elena Jankulovska (ILS) 6-0, 6-2
No. 6 Emily Casati (ILL) def. Silvia Pomarolli (ILS) 6-4, 6-4

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