Southern Illinois University
Creighton
Women's tennis loses to Creighton 6-1
04/17/2006 | 12:00:00 | Women's Tennis
April 17, 2006
By Lacole Hook
www.siusalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois women's tennis team dropped their third home match of the weekend as they lost to Creighton 6-1 on Sunday. The Bluejays picked up their first Missouri Valley Conference victory as they won the doubles point and five of the singles matches.
In the number one doubles match the Saluki duo of Maria Blanco and Zuzana Palovic defeated Katie Chiu and Jen Burge 8-6. The Bluejays took the other two matches over Zoya Honarmand and Laura Bredniak in the second match 8-2 and Amanda Taillefer and Kathleen Maher in the final match 8-4.
"It's very difficult to win matches in the MVC or in any other highly competitive conference in the country when you drop the doubles point," Saluki tennis coach Rene Vidal said. "While it's achievable, it adds maximum pressure to come up with the goods in singles and we've been unable to do that thus far."
Blanco again was the only Saluki to win in singles action. In the number one match Blanco defeated Chiu in three sets 2-6, 6-4, 6-2.
"On an individual basis, I'm very pleased with Maria's effort this past weekend," Vidal said. "To win three consecutive tough three set matches says a lot about her commitment to her personal goal of being a mentally tough competitor."
The Salukis are now 3-12 overall and 0-6 in conference play. They have three road matches left before the MVC Tournament. SIU travels to Indiana State, Illinois State and Bradley next weekend.
Creighton 6 SIU 1
Doubles
No. 1 Maria Blanco and Zuzana Palovic def. Katie Chiu and Jen Burge 8-6
No. 2 Nicole Thurston and Lou Hurley def. Zoya Honarmand and Laura Bredniak 8-2
No. 3 Jodi Yanagida and Lisa Ludwig def. Amanda Taillefer and Kathleen Maher 8-4
Singles
No. 1 Maria Blanco def. Katie Chiu 2-6, 6-4, 6-2
No. 2 Nicole Thurston def. Zuzana Palovic 7-6 (5), 6-2
No. 3 Jen Burge def. Zoya Honarmand 6-3, 7-6 (7)
No. 4 Lou Hurley def. Amanda Taillefer 6-4, 6-4
No. 5 Jodi Yanagida def. Laura Bredniak 2-6, 6-1, 6-2
No. 6 Lisa Ludwig def. Kathleen Maher 6-3, 6-4
