Redbirds defeat Panthers 5-2

WATERLOO, Iowa.- Illinois State wins in Iowa against Northern Iowa with a 5-2 win to improve to 13-6 on the season and 3-1 in Missouri Valley Conference play. Illinois State bounced back on Sunday after a tight loss to Drake on Saturday night. The Redbirds established an early lead by sweeping the doubles matches to earn the doubles point. Tijana Zlatanovic and Tara Damnjanovic, the No. 1 doubles combo, won 6-4 over UNI’s top pair of Darta Dalecka and Lorena Cardoso to clinch the doubles sweep. Maria Potsi and Penelope Abreu, the No. 2 duo, won 6-2, followed by Laura Fitzgerald and Alexandra Abyasova, the No. 3 pair, who also won 6-2.

Abreu kept the momentum going headed into singles action, winning in straight sets 6-2, 6-3 to put ISU up 2-0. Damnjanovic won in straight sets at No. 3 to make it 3-0, while Zlatanovic claimed the match at No. 1 with a 6-3, 7-6 victory over UNI No. 1 player Dalecka. Elena Jankulovska’s 6-1, 6-1 victory at No. 5 would completed the Redbird victory.

The Redbirds’ regular season comes to a close on Sunday, April 17, as they host Valparaiso in an MVC battle. The match’s location will be chosen at a later date depending on weather conditions.