SAINT LOUIS — Redbird freshman Hannah Esker won her fifth-straight singles match and teamed with Carmen Peters to win their eight-consecutive doubles match to help Illinois State in a 4-3 victory over Saint Louis Sunday at Forest Lake Racquet Club. The win marked Illinois State’s third victory in a row, improving its record to 8-6 on the season.
Esker and Peters clinched the doubles point for Illinois State with a win over SLU’s (4-9) Joe Becker and Sarah Septien, 8-3, in Flight 3. The duo is 9-3 in dual play this season.
The pairing of Natalia Lech and Tanja Hrovatic also won in doubles over SLU’s duo of Maureen Rielley and Kasia Tomalak, 8-3, in Flight 2 doubles.
In singles, Esker bested Joe Becker (SLU), 7-5, 6-0, in Flight 5, improving her overall dual singles record to 10-4.
Along with Esker, Hrovatic is 10-4 overall in dual singles play. Hrovatic bested SLU’s Rielley, 6-4, 6-1, in Flight 4. Teammate Lech added to the Redbirds singles points with a win over Tomalak (SLU), 6-7 (6-8), 6-3, 6-3, in Flight 3.
In Flight 1 singles, Julia Zubkova fell to Hailee Elmore, 6-3, 6-1, while Franziska Steinhardt lost her fourth-straight match, 7-5, 7-6, to SLU’s Casey Miller in Flight 2. Peters rounded out the singles play, falling to Septien (SLU), 6-0, 6-0, in Flight 6.
The Redbird doubles team of Zubkova and Steinhardt fell to SLU’s Miller and Elmore, 8-3, in Flight 1.
“Saint Louis always gives us tough competition,” said head coach Chris Hoover. “This match was good preparation for conference play next week. Hannah and Carmen are really locking those bottom positions, which is what we need to win. They are really doing their part to help the team.”
GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics, tickets, TRC gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
