Redbirds Win Spring Opener At Western Illinois

GALESBURG, Ill. – The Illinois State women's tennis team opened its spring season with a victory on Saturday, as the Redbirds rolled to a 6-1 win over the Leathernecks in Galesburg, Illinois.

"We handled the nerves that come with a season opener very well," ISU head coach Maja Kovacek. "I'm proud of the team and the work they have been putting in at practice and it's great to see those improvements in matches."

ISU jumped out to an early lead in doubles play, with wins at the No. 1 and No. 2 positions to secure the first point of the match. The duo of Tijana Zlatanovic and Lana Caculovic defeated Lara Rossetto Diniz de Souza and Paige Grice, 6-0, and the No. 2 team of Nuria Sanz and Silvia Pomarolli took down Maria Rybka and Aina Cortina-Pou, 6-1, to secure the doubles point.

The Redbirds would then win five of six singles matches, with the lone point for the Leathernecks coming on a withdrawal at the No. 6 spot.

Zlatanovic picked up a win at No. 1 over Lara Rossetto Diniz de Souza in a third-set tiebreaker 6-4, 5-7, 10-4 to come away with her first singles win of the spring. Caculovic, Pomarolli and Sanz all cruised to straight sets wins at No. 2 through No. 4 and Sofia Rodrigo picked up her first win of the spring with a victory over Maria Rybka by a score of 6-3, 7-6 (4).

The Redbirds hit the court next on January 26, when they host their first home match of the year at the Evergreen Racquet Club against Eastern Illinois, with first serve set for 6 p.m.

FINAL SCORE: Illinois State (6), Western Illinois (1)

Doubles: 
No. 1 Tijana Zlatanovic/Lana Caculovic (ILS) def. Lara Rossetto Diniz de Souza/Paige Grice (WIU) 6-0
No. 2 Nuria Sanz/Silvia Pomarolli (ILS) def. Maria Rybka/Aina Cortina-Pou (WIU) 6-1
No. 3 Zoe Limparis/Sofia Rodrigo (ILS) vs. Anna-Evelina Trush/Agatha Carbonell (WIU) 5-2 unfinished

Singles:
No. 1 Tijana Zlatanovic (ILS) def. Lara Rossetto Diniz de Souza (WIU) 6-4, 5-7, 10-4
No. 2 Lana Caculovic (ILS) def. Paige Grice (WIU) 6-3, 6-3
No. 3 Silvia Pomarolli (ILS) def. Aina Cortina-Pou (WIU) 6-0, 6-0
No. 4 Nuria Sanz (ILS) def. Agatha Carbonell (WIU) 6-0, 6-0
No. 5 Sofia Rodrigo (ILS) def. Maria Rybka (WIU) 6-3, 7-6 (4)
No. 6 Anna-Evelina Trush (WIU) def. Zoe Limparis (ILS), withdrawl

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