The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women's tennis team dropped a 5-2 match to Illinois State at the UTC Tennis Center this afternoon.  The Mocs fall to 7-4 overall, while the Redbirds improved to 10-6. 

UTC dropped the opening doubles point for the second match in a row.  The Redbirds took the win at No. 2 before junior Emma Van Hee and sophomore Caroline Gibbens posted their 6-3 victory over Tijana Zlatanovic and Tara Damnjanovic at No. 1.  UTC's top tandem improved to 4-2 at No. 1 in the spring, but ISU won at No. 3 for a 1-0 lead.

Illinois State went up 2-0 with a win at No. 6, but Van Hee put the Mocs on the board at No. 2.  She improved to 10-1 in the spring with a (6-2, 6-3) win over Damnjanovic. 

The Redbirds made it 3-1 with a win at No. 5.  Meanwhile, the Mocs were in three-set battles with two of the remaining three matches.  ISU secured the team victory with a victory at No. 1.

Chattanooga was able to put a second point on the board when junior Bogdana Zaporozhets defeated Natalia Bravo (6-2, 1-6, 6-3) at No. 3.  It was Zaporozhets second win in a row at No. 3. 

The Mocs have the weekend off before traveling to Alabama A&M on Wednesday, March 17.  First serve in Huntsville, Ala., is set for 3:00 p.m. (E.D.T.). 

Illinois State 5, Chattanooga 2
3/10/2021 at Chattanooga, Tenn. (UTC Tennis Center)
Doubles competition
1. Emma Van Hee/Caroline Gibbens (UTC) def. Tijana Zlatanovic/Tara Damnjanovic (ILS) 6-3
2. Natalia Bravo/Laura Fitzgerald (ILS) def. Jessie Young/Bogdana Zaporozhets (UTC) 6-3
3. Laura Arciniegas/Othilia Brodin (ILS) def. Callie Billman/Wilma Berqgvist (UTC) 6-3

Singles competition
1. Tijana Zlatanovic (ILS) def. Jessie Young (UTC) 7-5, 6-3
2. Emma Van Hee (UTC) def. Tara Damnjanovic (ILS) 6-2, 6-3
3. Bogdana Zaporozhets (UTC) def. Natalia Bravo (ILS) 6-2, 1-6, 6-3
4. Laura Arciniegas (ILS) def. Caroline Gibbens (UTC) 4-6, 6-0, 6-1
5. Penelope Abreu (ILS) def. Callie Billman (UTC) 6-3, 6-3
6. Elena Jankulovska (ILS) def. Wilma Berqgvist (UTC) 6-4, 6-1

Match Notes
Illinois State 10-6
Chattanooga 7-4
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (6,2,5,1,3,4)
T-3:00