Southern Illinois University
MVC Individuals
Taillefer leads Salukis at MVC Individual Championships
10/01/2006 | 12:00:00 | Women's Tennis
Oct. 1, 2006
By Ryan Shaw
www.SIUSalukis.com
OMAHA, Neb. - Amanda Taillefer led the Salukis at the 2006 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Individual Championships over the weekend, winning the flight six singles title. Taillefer defeated UNI's Mariana Muraca, 6-1, 4-6, 6-2, on Sunday to claim the title.
"It was a very good weekend of tennis for our program," head coach René Vidal said. "Amanda deserves tremendous credit for her performance by becoming a singles champion and doubles finalist. One of her main goals heading into the weekend was to win her individual singles flight and she did a great job of accomplishing that. Amanda has clearly earned an opportunity to play higher in our singles line-up. "
Junior Taillefer also played well in doubles with her partner, sophomore Andrea Courtney. Taillefer and Courtney won two their matches on Friday and Saturday before falling in the championship match on Sunday to UNI's Taynara Moraes and Meghana Paritala, 8-2.
"Andrea and Amanda played well together to put themselves in position to win a championship," Vidal said. "They have very good chemistry on the court and communicate well."
Like her coach, Taillefer believes that this weekend was a step in the right direction not only for her, but for the entire team.
"I feel really good about this weekend," Taillefer said. "I feel like a lot of hard work has finally paid off, both individually for me and as a whole for the team. I hope this past weekend gives the team confidence for the upcoming spring season."
Freshman Jessica Flannery represented the Salukis well, making it to the flight four championship round on Sunday where she fell 7-6 (5), 6-0 to Wichita State's Olga Elkin.
"Jessica competed really well in singles, reaching the finals," Vidal said. "Her hard work is beginning to pay off and she has also earned an opportunity to play higher in our line-up."
Flannery also played well on the doubles court, where she and her partner freshman Michela Cruise made it to the flight two consolation round championship. The pair lost a close match to UNI's Carolina Hannes and Mauraca, 8-6.
Junior Ame Blacketer defeated UNI's Agnese Pukse, 6-2, 6-3, before falling to Drake's Irina Kalashnikova, 0-6, 6-3, 6-2. The loss sent her to the consolation championship where she collected the title when Indiana State's Joanne Schickerling withdrew from the match with an injury.
Blacketer had a chance for another consolation title with partner Sabine Tsala Mvilongo in flight one doubles, but could not capture it as the pair dropped a close match to UNI's Brittany Brown and Beth Peyton, 8-6.
Tsala Mvilongo represented the Salukis in flight one singles, where she defeated UNI's Brown before falling to Wichita State's Stephanie Dalmacio. The loss sent her to the consolation championship, which she dropped to UNI's Paritala, 6-4, 6-4.
Both Cruise and Courtney had trouble on the singles courts. Cruise got off to a good start, winning her first match of the weekend against Evansville's Peyton, 6-3, 6-4, before dropping her next two matched to Creighton's Tess Reddin and Wichita State's Torrie Browning.
Courtney struggled in flight five singles, losing to Wichita State's Jackie Richey and Bradley's Jessica Buterbaugh.
Despite a few setbacks, Vidal was pleased with his team's performance over the weekend.
"Overall, the team did a very good job of working together and supporting one another," Vidal said.
The Salukis will take some time off before traveling to the ITA Midwest Regionals in East Lansing, Mich. on Oct. 19-23.
Players Mentioned
