University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Illinois State
Redbirds Sneak Past Panthers, 4-3
4/11/2009 8:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
April 11, 2009
NORMAL, ILL. – The UNI Panthers (12-7, 1-4) lost their second straight road conference match Saturday as they fell to the Illinois State Redbirds (11-8, 3-2), 4-3. The Redbirds won four out of the six singles matches after dropping the doubles point to earn the victory.
The Panthers experimented with a new lineup in doubles, which paid off. Usually at the No. 2 spot, Laia Gonzalez-Garrido and Taynara Moraes moved from No. 3 doubles to No. 2 doubles and topped the Redbirds' Tanja Hrovatic and Natalia Lech, 8-4. The two victories gave the Panthers the doubles point. UNI improved to 15-4 in doubles play on the season.
Some lineup changes took place in the Panthers' singles lineup as well. Competing for her second time at the No. 1 spot, Walker topped ISU's Zubkova, 6-2, 5-7, 6-2. The freshman has not lost at the top position in her two appearances. From that point, however, the Redbirds caught fire and won four of the remaining five matches. UNI's only remaining victory came from Kunzelmann, who defeated Steinhardt, 6-1, 5-7, 6-4, in No. 4 singles.
The Panthers travel to Peoria tomorrow to take on the Bradley Braves at 11 a.m. UNI hopes to earn their first road conference win against a Bradley squad who will be seeking its first conference victory.
FINAL RESULTS
Doubles
1. Gonzalez-Garrido,Lai/Walker, Phoebe (UNI) def. Steinhardt,Franziska/Zubkova, Julia (ILS) 8-5
2. Kunzelmann, Jessica/Moraes, Taynara (UNI) def. Hrovatic, Tanja/Lech, Natalia (ILS) 8-4
3. Peters, Carmen/Esker, Hannah (ILS) def. Kanade, Sampada/Jang-Stewart, Talia (UNI) 8-6
Singles
1. Taynara Moraes (UNI) 7-6 (7-4), 6-2
6. Peters, Carmen (ILS) def. Jang-Stewart, Talia (UNI) 6-0, 6-0
