CHICAGO, Ill. – Illinois State had an efficient Sunday morning performance from the Windy City, as the Redbirds (5-1) swept the Chicago State Cougars (4-6) by a score of 7-0.
"We did a good job today coming away with some close first sets in singles and that helped us play better as the match went on," ISU head coach Maja Kovacek said.
Tijana Zlatanovic and Tara Damnjanovic continued their strong play as the number one doubles pairing for ISU, picking up the 6-1 win over CSU-W's Sofiya Sedovich and Cali Fuller. Then, the Redbirds secured the doubles point with a 6-3 result at number three, off the racquets of Nevena Kolarevic and Elena Jankulovska over the pairing of Katarina Dukic and Ethel Li of the home team Cougars.
Number two doubles would not see a complete finish, as the match ended tied at 5-5 apiece after the Redbirds secured the doubles point.
Then, in singles, Silvia Pomarolli made it 2-0 for ISU after picking up a 6-1, 6-0 win at number five. She would soon be followed up by Kolarevic at number three, winning 6-2, 6-2 as the visitors moved one point away from their fifth win of the spring. The match would be clinched by Damnjanovic at number four, as she collected a 7-5, 6-2 win over CSU-W's Manuella Eloundou-Ng.
The Redbirds kept the momentum rolling as they collected wins at number six, two, and one including a three-set thriller to end the match. Tijana Zlatanovic wrapped up the match at number one, picking up a 4-6, 7-6, 10-3 win as the Redbirds move to 5-1 this spring.
The Redbirds are back in action next weekend for a trip to East Lansing, as they take on Xavier on Saturday before facing off with the host Spartans of Michigan State next Sunday.
Final Results: Illinois State (7), Chicago State (0)
Singles competition
1. Tijana Zlatanovic (ILS) def. Cali Fuller (CSU-W) 4-6, 7-6, 10-3
2. Alexandra Abyasova (ILS) def. Kristina Pukhaeva (CSU-W) 7-6 (8-6), 6-3
3. Nevena Kolarevic (ILS) def. Katarina Dukic (CSU-W) 6-2, 6-2
4. Tara Damnjanovic (ILS) def. Manuella Eloundou-Ng (CSU-W) 7-5, 6-2
5. Silvia Pomarolli (ILS) def. Ethel Li (CSU-W) 6-1, 6-0
6. Elena Jankulovska (ILS) def. Amina Taibi (CSU-W) 6-4, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Tijana Zlatanovic/Tara Damnjanovic (ILS) def. Sofiya Sedovich/Cali Fuller (CSU-W) 6-1
2. Kristina Pukhaeva/Manuella Eloundou-Ng (CSU-W) v. Alexandra Abyasova/Silvia Pomarolli (ILS) 5-5
3. Nevena Kolarevic/Elena Jankulovska (ILS) def. Katarina Dukic/Ethel Li (CSU-W) 6-3
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