CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Illinois State women's tennis team completed it spring trip in South Carolina on Thursday, as the Redbirds took on the College of Charleston in a final tune up before Missouri Valley Conference action begins on Sunday. The Redbirds jumped out to an early lead, but the Cougars rallied in singles play to come away with the narrow 4-3 victory.
The doubles point was highly contested to start the match, as the Redbirds jumped out to an early advantage thanks to the No. 3 team of Elena Jankulovska and Nevena Kolarevic picking up a 6-0 win. However, the Cougars fought back with a win at the No. 2 spot to tie things up, but ISU's top doubles duo of Tara Damnjanovic and Tijana Zlatanovic rolled to a 6-2 win to secure the doubles point for the Redbirds.
In singles play, the Cougars tied things up with a win at the No. 1 spot by Slade Coetzee over Zlatanovic. ISU would then fight back with straight-set wins at the No. 3 spot by Kolarevic and at the No. 2 spot by Alexandra Abyasova to regain the lead at 3-1 with three matches remaining on the courts. A win at the No. 4 spot by Ella Faessler over Damnjanovic would get Charleston closer at 3-2, as the No. 5 and No. 6 matches each went to a third and deciding set. A win by the Cougars in three sets at the No. 6 spot tied the match at 3-3, leaving the decision up to the result on court No. 5. After dropping the first set, Silvia Pomarolli won the second to send it to a third set, but Charleston's Nicole Stephens ultimately took the third set 7-5 to clinch the match for the Cougars, 4-3.
The Redbirds are back in action on Sunday, when they start MVC play against Missouri State with first serve set for 10 a.m. in Springfield, Mo.
FINAL SCORE: College of Charleston (4), Illinois State (3)
Doubles:Â
No. 1 Tara Damnjanovic/Tijana Zlatanovic (ILS) def. Slade Coetzee/Halli Trinkle (CofC) 6-2
No. 2 Ella Faessler/Nicole Stephens (CofC) def. Alexandra Abyasova/Silvia Pomarolli (ILS) 6-3
No. 3 Elena Jankulovska/Nevena Kolarevic (ILS) def. Maja Jekauc/Klara Vukicevic (CofC) 6-0
Singles:
No. 1 Slade Coetzee (CofC) def. Tijana Zlatanovic (ILS) 6-2, 6-3
No. 2 Alexandra Abyasova (ILS) def. Halli Trinkle (CofC) 6-4, 6-2
No. 3 Nevena Kolarevic (ILS) def. Maja Jekauc (CofC) 6-2, 6-4
No. 4 Ella Faessler (CofC) def. Tara Damnjanovic (ILS) 7-5, 6-1
No. 5 Nicole Stephens (CofC) def. Silvia Pomarolli (ILS) 6-2, 2-6, 7-5Â Â Â
No. 6 Peyton Brotzmann (CofC) def. Elena Jankulovska (ILS) 6-3, 3-6, 6-1
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