Women's Tennis Drops 6-1 Match at Illinois State Friday Afternoon

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – In its first Missouri Valley Conference road match of the season, the Belmont University women's tennis team was handed a 6-1 loss by Illinois State Friday afternoon in Bloomington, Illinois. The Bruins (2-14, 1-2 MVC) claimed their lone point at the top of the singles lineup courtesy of redshirt freshman Savannah Webster, and Belmont was also victorious at No. 1 doubles thanks to Webster and sophomore Jessica Popiol.
 
Like Webster, Popiol also took her opponent to three sets at No. 3 singles. However, the Bruins fell in straight sets at the No. 2 and No. 4-6 singles positions.
 
The host Redbirds (13-5, 2-1 MVC) won the all-important doubles point with a 6-4 triumph at the No. 2 spot and a 6-0 win at third doubles. Illinois State's Nicole Iosio and Nuria Sanz got past junior Hana Sokolovic and graduate Cielo Tapia-Cruz at No. 2 doubles after the Redbirds' Emma Lindh and Vittoria Benedetti topped junior Emma Grant and senior Libbie Hamilton at No. 3 doubles.
 
Webster took the first set, 6-4, against Illinois State's Lana Caculovic at No. 1 singles but was forced into a third-set super tiebreaker after falling in set two, 6-3. In the deciding 10-point tiebreaker in lieu of a third set, Webster prevailed 10-8.
 
On court three, Popiol also won her opening set by a 6-4 margin against the Redbirds' Benedetti, but Benedetti stormed back in the second and third sets for a 6-2, 6-4 win.
 
At No. 4 singles, freshman Ketevan Jeladze pushed Illinois State's Iosio to a first-set tiebreaker, but was edged 7-5 in the breaker.
 
Up Next
Belmont continues road action Saturday morning, facing Bradley at Parkside Fitness in Pekin, Illinois. First serve is scheduled for 11 a.m. Next weekend, the Bruins host the University of Illinois Chicago and Valparaiso.
 
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