Box Score (PDF) 

DES MOINES, Iowa – In a 4-0 defeat at the hands of No. 2 seeded Illinois State, the Missouri State tennis team concluded its season here Friday afternoon in the first round of the Missouri Valley Conference Championship Tournament.   

"This season was probably one of the most difficult and challenging that a coach and a team could ask for, with multiple adversities that were out of our control," said head coach Randall Knox after the match. "However, we gave our best and competed every point, game and match until the end."  

Competing with just four active players against the Redbirds, the Bears battled in both doubles matches with Mara Presot and Mary Houston playing in the first position while Juliette Robinson and Sandra Lukacova competed in the second flight. Illinois State's Tijana Zlatanovic and Tara Damnjanovic came out on top in Flight No. 1, defeating Houston and Presot (6-3) to take the doubles point. 

Down players in the No. 6 and No. 5 flights, MSU started singles play in a 3-0 deficit. Robinson was the first to finish, falling to Zlatanovic in a hard-fought (6-1, 6-4) contest which clinched the match for Illinois State and ended the season for MSU.  

"We are already looking forward to next year as we continue to change the culture and build a winning program," finished Knox. 

Results 

Singles Competition: 
1. Tijana Zlatanovic (ISU) def. Juliette Robinson (MSU) 6-1, 6-4  
2. Mary Houston (MSU) vs. Alexandra Abyasova (ISU) 1-6, 3-4, unfinished  
3. Mara Presot (MSU) vs. Maria Potsi (ISU) 4-6, 2-4, unfinished  
4. Sandra Lukacova (MSU) vs. Tara Damnjanovic (ISU) 1-6, 2-4, unfinished  
5. Penelope Abreu (ISU) def. No player (MSU), by forfeit  
6. Elena Jankulovska (ISU) def. No player (MSU), by forfeit  

Order of finish: (6, 5, 1) 

Doubles competition:
1. Tijana Zlatanovic/Tara Damnjanovic (ISU) def. Mara Presot/Mary Houston (MSU) 6-3  
2. Maria Potsi/Penelope Abreu (ISU) def. Juliette Robinson/Sandra Lukacova (MSU) 6-2  
3. Laura Fitzgerald/Alexandra Abyasova (ISU) vs. No player/No player (MSU) no result 

Order of finish: (3, 1) 
 

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