Three Redbirds Advance in Singles Draws On Day 1 Of Redbird Invitational

NORMAL, Ill. – In a fall preview of Missouri Valley Conference action, defending league champion Illinois State hosted the remainder of their conference opponents at the Redbird Invitational on Friday at the Gregory Street Courts in Normal. The annual event is meant to mimic the MVC Individual Championships, which were previously held each fall but were discontinued two years ago.

The first day of action was solid for the Redbirds, with two doubles teams and three singles competitors advancing in the winner's brackets.

In doubles action to start the day, the duo of Vittoria Benedetti and Emma Peretti picked up an 8-5 win over the Murray State's Alexeyeva and Kikawa in Flight 1. The team of Nicole Iosio and Molly Carlberg earned a win over UIC's Cosmo and Liu by a score of 8-6 in Flight 2. 

In singles action, Benedetti defeated Belmont's Emmi Kolyszko by a score of 6-2, 6-2 in Flight 1 to advance to Saturday's semifinals, while Iosio also punched her ticket to the semifinals with a 6-1, 7-5 win over UNI's Andrea Noa Galin in Flight 2. The other singles win of the day came in the main draw came in Flight 3 from Peretti, who defeated Ann Hsieh of Bradley by a final of 6-0, 7-6 (2). In consolation action in Flight 6, Anna Houpt earned a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Erica Allan of Bradley and will join teammate Ella McLeod in the consolation semifinals after she received a bye following a defeat in the main draw.

Day two of the Redbird Invitational begins at 9 a.m. Saturday morning with doubles once again, followed by singles in the afternoon.

RESULTS:

Flight 1 Singles:
Vittoria Benedetti (ISU) def. Emmi Kolyszko (Belmont) 6-2, 6-2

Flight 2 Singles:
Nicole Iosio (ISU) def. Andrea Noa Galin (UNI) 6-1, 7-5

Flight 3 Singles:
Emma Peretti (ISU) def. Ann Hsieh (Bradley) 6-0, 7-6 (2)

Flight 4 Singles: 
Mia Jones (Belmont) def. Molly Carlberg (ISU) 6-4, 7-5

Flight 5 Singles:
Bruna Melato (MSU) def. Emma Lindh (ISU) 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4

Flight 6 Singles:
Cathy Beckmann (Valpo) def. Ella McLeod (ISU) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
Keti Jeladze (Belmont) def. Anna Houpt (ISU) 6-4, 6-1
Anna Houpt (ISU) def. Erica Allan (Bradley) 6-1, 6-1

Flight 1 Doubles:
Benedetti/Peretti (ISU) def. Alexeyeva/Kikawa (MSU) 8-5

Flight 2 Doubles:
Iosio/Carlberg (ISU) def. Cosmo/Liu (UIC) 8-6

Flight 3 Doubles:
Null/Widan (MSU) def. McLeod/Houpt (ISU) 8-0
Fernandes/Delgado (Valpo) def. Lindh/Lowe (ISU) 8-4 

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