McLean County Times

The Illinois State women's tennis team is set to play back-to-back away matches against Missouri Valley Conference rivals. The Redbirds, holding a record of 10-6 and unbeaten in their conference with 3-0, are scheduled to face Murray State and Missouri State this weekend.

The upcoming match against the Murray State Racers, with a 9-6 record and also undefeated in the conference at 2-0, is slated for Saturday, April 4, at Bennie Purcell Tennis Courts in Murray, Kentucky, beginning at 2 p.m. Following this, the Redbirds will visit the Missouri State Bears, who hold a less favorable record of 2-14 with one win in the conference, on Sunday, April 6. The match is scheduled for 11 a.m. at the Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield.

In their previous match, the Redbirds emerged victorious against the Drake Bulldogs, winning 5-2 at the Evergreen Racquet Club. In doubles, the Illinois State players won at both the No. 1 and No. 2 positions. Lana Caculovic and Silvia Pomarolli claimed a 6-3 victory against Drake's Jessica Popiol and Laura Koralnik. The duo of Emma Lindh and Elena Jankulovska secured a tight win with a 6-4 score.

Transitioning to singles, Pomarolli won over Popiol with scores of 6-3, 7-6 (1), and Caculovic bested Elizabete Klavinska 6-2, 6-1. Nuria Sanz triumphed over her opponent with a 6-2, 6-3 victory, while Nicole Iosio won over Nicole Lee with identical 6-2 sets.

Murray State's impressive performance continues, boasting a 12-match winning streak in MVC confrontations, their last loss coming at the hands of Illinois State in 2022. Recently, they defeated the Valparaiso Beacons 7-0, backed by the performance of Bruna Melato and Valeria Chaikovskaia in doubles, and Chaikovskaia's singles win.

Missouri State secured their last win on March 22 against the Valparaiso Beacons, taking the match narrowly 4-3. Key players in that victory included Tuana Gunal and Billie Gonlusen in doubles, with Gonlusen also securing a singles win.

Post these matches, Illinois State will be on hiatus for six days before heading to Valparaiso, Indiana for another conference face-off against the Beacons on Saturday, April 12.

For updates on the Illinois State women's tennis team, fans can visit GoRedbirds.com or follow them on social media platforms including "X", Facebook, and Instagram.