April 29, 2005

by Dustin Thompson
www.SIUSalukis.com

PEORIA, IL. - The Salukis were defeated by the Illinois State Redbirds today (4-2) in the opening round of the Missouri Valley Conference Championships at the David Markin Tennis Courts in Peoria, IL.

Things looked up for the No. 6 seeded Salukis after they took an early 1-0 lead, after capturing the doubles point. Maria Blanco and Tana Trapani teamed up to post a win at the the No. 1 doubles spot over ISU's Gravino and Parent (8-0) as Zuzana Palovic and Zoya Honarmand notched a win over Parke-Bedard and Maxwell at the No. 2 doubles position.

SIU would not hold the lead for long, as a tenacious Redbird squad would come back to take four wins in singles play, ending the Salukis season. Laura Bredniak was the only Saluki to notch a win in singles as she defeated Matea Simovic (6-4, 6-2) at the No. 6 singles spot.

Southern finishes the season with a 6-13 record.

Results
Doubles
1. Blanco/ Trapani vs Gravino/ Parent (SIU) 8-0
2. Palovic/ Honarmand vs Parke-Bedard/ Maxwell (SIU) 9-8 (7)
3. Laura Bredniak/ Hornestam vs Bingier/ Simoavic (ISU) 8-2

Singles
1.Maria Blanco vs Laura Gravino (ISU)- 6-3, 6-1
2.Tana Trapani vs Liz Bingier (ISU)-4-6, 7-6 (4), 7-5
3.Amanda Taillefer vs Veronique Parke-Bedard (ISU)-6-0, 6-2
4.Zoya Honarmand vs Emilie Sechaud (ISU)- 6-1, 6-0
5.Zuzana Palovic vs Carolyn Parent DNF 6-4, 4-6
6.Laura Bredniak vs Matea Simovic (SIU)-6-4, 6-2