Redbirds Sweep The Racers, 7-0, To Stay Undefeated in MVC Play

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Playing at home inside the Evergreen Racquet Club has been very comfortable for the Illinois State women's tennis team, as it headed into Thursday's match against Murray State undefeated at home. The Redbirds (11-6) made sure to keep that record unblemished, as they swept the Racers 7-0 to remain undefeated on their home courts and undefeated in Missouri Valley Conference play at 4-0.

The win was the fourth in a row for ISU and its sixth in the last eight matches overall. It marks the first time since 2021 that the Redbirds started MVC play 4-0, when they finished that season 5-0 to win the regular season title.

ISU took the early advantage in doubles play by sweeping all three matches to secure the first point of the match. The No. 1 duo of Tara Damnjanovic and Tijana Zlatanovic barely broke a sweat in a 6-0 sweep over Jordi Font Montero and Natalie Slezakova. The No. 3 team of Elena Jankulovska and Nevena Kolarevic then clinched the doubles point for the Redbirds with their quick 6-2 win, just a minute before the No. 2 team of Alexandra Abyasova and Silvia Pomarolli completed the sweep with a 6-2 victory of their own.

The action then moved to singles, where Zlatanovic wasted little time in picking up a win at No. 1 over Sarah Bureau by a score of 6-2, 6-0. Then on court No. 3, Kolarevic picked up a 6-1, 6-3 victory to make it 3-0 in favor of ISU before Pomarolli clinched the match for the Redbirds with her 6-3, 6-3 win at the No. 5 spot to make it 4-0 at the time.

On the opposite side of the facility, Abyasova rolled to a 6-3, 6-0 with at the No. 2 spot and Damnjanovic took care of Murray State's Natalie Slezakova by a score of 6-3, 6-4 at the No. 4 spot to make it 6-0. Elena Jankulovska took the first set in her match at No. 6 before dropping the second, but she rallied in the tiebreaker to pick up a 6-1, 3-6, 10-7 win to secure the sweep for the Redbirds.

ISU returns to action on Sunday, April 2, when they travel on I-74 to take on the rival Bradley Braves in Peoria at 1 p.m.

FINAL SCORE: Illinois State (7), Murray State (0)

Doubles: 
No. 1 Tara Damnjanovic/Tijana Zlatanovic (ILS) def. Jordi Font Montero/Natalie Slezakova (MUR) 6-0
No. 2 Alexandra Abyasova/Silvia Pomarolli (ILS) def. Emma Honore/Annika Pschorr (MUR) 6-2
No. 3 Elena Jankulovska/Nevena Kolarevic (ILS) def. Sarah Bureau/Marit Kreugel (MUR) 6-2

Singles:
No. 1 Tijana Zlatanovic (ILS) def. Sarah Bureau (MUR) 6-2, 6-0
No. 2 Alexandra Abyasova (ILS) def. Emma Honore (MUR) 6-3, 6-0
No. 3 Nevena Kolarevic (ILS) def. Annika Pschorr (MUR) 6-1, 6-3
No. 4 Tara Damnjanovic (ILS) def. Natalie Slezakova (MUR) 6-3, 6-4
No. 5 Silvia Pomarolli (ILS) def. Jordi Font Montero (MUR) 6-3, 6-3
No. 6 Elena Jankulovska (ILS) def. Paola Campigotto (MUR) 6-1, 3-6, 10-7

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