Southern Illinois University
Northern Illinois
Women's Tennis starts season 2-0
01/30/2006 | 12:00:00 | Women's Tennis
Jan. 30, 2006
By Lacole Hook
www.siusalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. -The Southern Illinois women's tennis team opened the spring season 2-0 after the Salukis picked up wins over Wisconsin-Green Bay and Northern Illinois in their first weekend of play.
The Salukis dominated WGB 6-1 Saturday in Chicago. SIU went 2-1 in doubles earning the point. Amanda Taillefer and Zoya Honarmand paired up to defeat Jennifer Tan and Megan Gregory (8-3), while Laura Bredniak and Kathleen Maher combined to post the win against Kristin Leeder and Kari Petrashek (8-6).
The Salukis won five of the six singles matches. Maria Blanco played in the No. 1 spot defeating Heather Harding (6-3, 6-3). In the No. 2 match Taillefer defeated Tan (7-6 (1), 6-3). Honarmand won the No. 3 match, while Palovic also picked up a victory in the No. 4 spot. Bredniak went to three sets in the No. 5 match up, but pulled out the victory (6-3, 4-6, 6-1).
Women's tennis coach Rene Vidal was pleased with the way the team performed to start the season.
"I am very proud of the way we competed this weekend," Vidal said. "The intensity was extremely high, and the attitudes were very positive."
On Sunday, the Salukis traveled to Rockford, Ill. where they defeated the Huskies 5-2 at the Rockford Boylan High School's Indoor Tennis Center. Blanco and Palovic won the No. 1 doubles match against Lilian Asuaje and Jenny Edner (8-6) and Bredniak and Maher won in the No. 3 spot by default.
In singles play Blanco defeated Dora Delgadillo in the No. 1 spot (6-3, 6-1). Palovic and Bredniak also won in the No. 4 and No. 5 spots respectively. In the No. 6 spot Maher won by default.
"We have a lot of things to work on," said Vidal. "But at the same time we are pleased to come away with two wins."
The Salukis next match is Feb. 19, against IUPUI in Indianapolis.
