The ISU women’s tennis team attempted to defend its home territory at the Redbird Round-Up this past weekend, but the Redbirds were not as successful as they had hoped. 

The ‘Birds hosted their lone tournament of the fall season at the Gregory Street Tennis Courts, Friday-Sunday, only earning one victory through Aniko Kiss.

“Aniko did great, but the team has to get back on track,” ISU head coach Chris Hoover said. “We’ll do even better next time.”

Kiss walked away with a singles championship on Sunday, continuing her seven-match singles undefeated streak. Karissa Kotovsky / Daily Vidette Photographer: ISU senior Aniko Kiss was the lone Redbird women’s tennis player to take first place at the Redbird Round-Up this past weekend.

“I think the whole team tried really hard and the effort was there, unfortunately it didn’t turn out how we wanted to,” Kiss said.

Kiss’ match was won after    battling back from an early, 3-6 loss to Caroline Hedrick of Butler. Kiss won the next two sets 6-2, 6-1, to take home the title. 

“Aniko salvaged the day for us,” Hoover said. “She made a great comeback in the third set, beat a good player and is still undefeated.”

In addition to the singles title Kiss, along with partner Phyllis Tigges, finished runner-up in doubles play. The pair lost their first doubles match of the season when they were defeated to Rosalina and Rosalia Tejoprayitno of Chicago State, 8-5.

“I think we definitely have to work on doubles. We improved a lot, but it is still long way to go,” Kiss said.  

In addition to the second place in doubles, Tigges lost in the consolation finals in flight one of singles play against Rosalina Tejoprayitno.

In flight three singles finals, Illinois State’s Gabby Phillips lost to Cam Thompson of Butler, 6-2, 6-2.

Two Redbird players faced each other in the consolation final round of flight two singles with Hannah Esker and Stefanie Youngberg squaring off. Esker prevailed, 7-5, 6-4.

The weekend started how it finished with multiple matches being lost on the ‘Birds’ side.

Kiss began the weekend by extending her singles and doubles win streak to 5-0. She advanced to the semifinals for flight one singles by defeating RosaliaTejoprayitno of Chicago State, 7-5, 6-2, while Tigges and Kiss also defeated Karyn Emeralda and Ruta Grinvalde of Chicago State, 8-3, in doubles.

After Friday’s action, the ‘Birds finished 2-2 in doubles.

Stefanie Youngberg and Gabby Phillips were defeated by Caroline Hedrick and Brittany Farmer of Butler, 8-3. Ashton Nisbet was paired with Shilpa Naruka of Morehead State and went on to beat Laura Shull and Kate Panawash, 8-5, while Morehead State’s Alix Young and Jessica Montemayor  defeated the ‘Birds’ Esker and Heather Nisbet,8-5.

“There’s some good tennis being played…we just need to make sure we stay on the right side of it,” Hoover said after day one of competition.

As the second day of competition came along, so did Kiss’ winning streak as junior Tigges and senior Kiss win extended their doubles streak to 6-0.

Kiss bested Stephanie McLouglin of Butler in two sets, 6-2, 6-2, in singles play while Morehead State’s Jessica Montemayor  was defeated by Tigges in three sets.

Partners Esker and Heather Nisbet started off Saturday on a good note by defeating Schull and Panawash, 8-4, before losing to McLouglin and Gabrielle Rubenstein, 8-6.

“We’re still learning and figuring it out,” said Hoover after day two. “I’m pleased we made it to the finals of a couple flights, and I’m excited to see how it turns out.”

Unfortunately the duo could not pull out the double victory, but the weekend as a whole was not a failure.

“My performance was good this weekend, I think I played pretty good,” Kiss said Sunday night. “Still undefeated [in singles]… hopefully it stays this way.”