Leathernecks Continue Non-League Action

WIU takes on Drake and Colorado State

MACOMB, Ill. — The Western Illinois women's tennis team travels to Des Moines, Iowa for non-league action this weekend against Drake and Colorado State. First serve is set for 5 p.m. on Friday (Feb. 23) against host Drake and noon on Saturday (Feb. 24) against Colorado Sate.

LAST TIME OUT: After three matches in three days last weekend, the Leathernecks finished 2-1 to move to 3-3 overall this season.

The first match was against St. Francis (Feb. 16), who the Leathernecks swept 9-0. Western won each doubles matchup including two sweeps. Freshmen, and sister, duo Ana Bjelica and Mary Bjelica improved to 2-0 in doubles after defeating Alyssa Larsen and Michelle Robert 8-0. Western would go on and sweep every singles match. In the No. 1 singles, Natalia Bravo defeated Merle Schlaeger 6-4, 6-3. Courtney Lubbers held her opponent scoreless and won 6-0, 6-0 moving to 3-1 on the season, while Laura Ballesteros topped her opponent 6-1, 6-0. Senior Cary Milanes followed fellow senior Lubbers and blanked her matchup 6-0, 6-0. Ana Bjelica (6-1, 6-0) and Mary Bjelica (6-0, 6-0) rounded out singles in the No. 5 and No. 6 spots.

WIU then traveled to in state rival Illinois State for the second contest of the three-game road stretch and dropped the match 1-4. The Redbirds took the lead by winning two of the three double matches. Lubbers was the lone Leatherneck to secure the win in No. 2 singles against Jelena Karla Vujicic.

The Leathernecks concluded the road trip with a 8-1 victory of St. Ambrose and won each of the three doubles matches that were worth one point each. Bravo and Lubbers cruised to an 8-1 victory in the No. 1 doubles followed by Milanes and Ballesteros topping their match up 8-3. Rounding out the doubles in the No. 3 spot, Andrea Haines and Maria Bessmertnaya won 8-1. Preseason Summit League 'Players to Watch' Bravo (No. 1), and seniors Lubbers (No. 2) and Milanes (No. 3) all held their opponent scoreless, and won each set 6-0. Haines, a walk-on, picked up her first victory of the season in the No. 5 singles winning 6-2, 6-4. Bessmertnaya also secured her first win in singles competition this year in the No. 4 spot.

SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS: Drake comes into the weekend sitting at a record of 6-1 and 5-0 at home this season. The Bulldogs have wins over Summit League opponents Omaha (6-1) and South Dakota (5-2). Most recently they are coming off a 0-7 loss against the Golden Gophers on the road. They are led by seniors Summer Brills and Tess Herder. Brills owns a record of 5-2 in No. 1 singles and has been a part of six double victories along with Joey Lomas. Herder also has record of 5-2 in the No. 2 spot and the Missouri native is part of perfect 7-0 record in doubles in the No. 1 spot with freshman Liza Petucshkova. The duo was named recently named MVC Women's Tennis Doubles Team of the Week on Feb. 13. Petuchkova is currently 6-1 in the No. 3 singles.

SCOUTING THE RAMS: Colorado State travels to Des Moines standing at 4-4 overall and 3-4 on the road. The Rams are coming off a lost to UNLV (0-4) on Feb. 11. They are led in the No. 3 singles spot by sophomore Alyssa Grijalva, who has a 6-1 record and has helped add four victories in No. 1 doubles play with Priscilla Palermo.

WEEKEND PERFECTION: Senior Courtney Lubbers finished the three-match stretch last weekend 3-0 in singles play at the No. 2 spot and also added two wins in No. 1 doubles. She started off the road trip by holding her matchup at St. Francis scoreless before winning 6-0, 6-0. Lubbers' second victory came against Illinois State 6-4, 6-2. The Wichita, Kan., native wrapped up the long weekend by holding her opponent scoreless again, this time against the Fighting Bees of St. Ambrose. She now sits at 5-1 overall this season.

ADDING TO THE HARDWARE: Bravo was named to the preseason Summit League 'Players to Watch' list after posting a 13-10 record in No. 2 singles. The Colombia native was named Summit League Newcomer of the Year, League Academic Honor Roll and also received All-League honors. Recently, Bravo finished the fall season on a strong note by winning two matches at the ITA Central Regionals. She wrapped up the fall slate by putting together a 4-3 record in the No. 1 singles spot, contributing to four wins in No. 1 double plays as well.

COACHING SUCCESS: Third-year head coach Mirko Bjelica looks to keep the trend of improving each season. Last year, he coached the Leathernecks to a 9-14 record overall and 3-3 mark in Summit League play. That was their best league record since the 2009-2010 season after finishing 6-13 overall record and 0-6 in League play the year before.

UP AHEAD: Following the two-game matchup, the Leathernecks keep the trend going by taking on SIU-Edwardsville and Missouri State on the road next weekend (March 2-3).

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Players Mentioned

Laura Ballesteros: Sophomore; Castellar Del Valles

Maria Bessmertnaya: Senior; Akron

Natalia Bravo: 5' 6"; Sophomore; Colegio Bilingue Buckingham

Courtney Lubbers: Senior

Cary Milanes: Senior; Miami Palmetto

Andrea Haines: Sophomore

Ana Bjelica: Freshman; Homeschooled

Mary Bjelica: Freshman; Homeschooled

Players Mentioned

Laura Ballesteros
: Sophomore; Castellar Del Valles

Maria Bessmertnaya
: Senior; Akron

Natalia Bravo
: 5' 6"; Sophomore; Colegio Bilingue Buckingham

Courtney Lubbers
: Senior

Cary Milanes
: Senior; Miami Palmetto

Andrea Haines
: Sophomore

Ana Bjelica
: Freshman; Homeschooled

Mary Bjelica
: Freshman; Homeschooled