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Tennis Set for Action in Show Me State

| By: WIU Athletic Communications

First serve begins at 10 a.m. on Friday and 11 a.m. on Sunday.

MACOMB, Ill. – After a week off, the Western Illinois women's tennis team returns to the court in the Show Me state to take on host Missouri State on Friday (Feb. 8) and Creighton Saturday (Feb. 9).
 
This will be the second time the Leathernecks play at Missouri State this year as they closed the fall campaign there. First serve is set for 10 a.m. on Friday against the Bears and 11 a.m. on Saturday versus the Bluejays.

LAST TIME OUT: The Leathernecks fell 4-0 in the season opener at SIUE on Jan. 26, but then bounced back to defeat Green Bay 6-1 for the first win of the spring on Jan.27.
 
The Phoenix jumped out to a quick 1-0 advantage after they won the doubles point, but the Leathernecks rallied back to sweep all six singles matches.
 
Mia Melniziki dropped the first set 1-6 and then battled back to win two straight sets 7-6 and 10-8 in No. 1 singles. In No. 6 singles, fellow freshman Megan Tagaloa won the first set 6-1 and then pulled out a 7-5 set victory in the third set tiebreaker. Anouk Maajong wrapped up the newcomers on a  6-3, 6-3  win in the No. 3 spot.
 
All three Leatherneck returners each moved past their matchup in two starlight sets. Junior Laura Ballesteros limited her matchup to one point each set (6-1, 6-1) to secure a point in No. 5 singles. Last seasons' All-League honoree Mary Bjelica won 6-3, 6-2 in the No. 2 spot. And Ana Bjelica (No. 4) concluded the weekend action on a 6-4, 6-4 victory.
 
FRESH FOUR: This season freshmen Anouk Maajong, Mia Melnizki, Camryn Rossa and Megan Tagaloa all suit up for the Purple and Gold for the first time to make their college debuts. All four have already earned their first collegiate victory this past fall. Tagaloa also was tagged as Summit League Preseason Watch List.
 
THREE AMIGOS: Laura Ballesteros, Ana Bjelica and Mary Bjelica are the three lone returners from last season. The trio combined for a 7-3 record in League play last season and a 31-11 mark overall.
 
COACHING SUCCESS: Fourth-year head coach Mirko Bjelica looks to keep the trend of improving each season. Last year, he coached the Leathernecks to a 10-8 overall record and 2-2 mark in Summit League play to earn a bid to the postseason tournament for the first time in four years. Bjelica has added more wins to the program each season and helped snap 34-match conference losing streak.
 
ITA RECOGNITION: In the classroom last year, women's tennis recorded the highest term grade point averages in the Leatherneck Athletic Department. The team boasted a 3.816 GPA in the spring semester with three student-athletes posting a perfect 4.0 GPA. For their efforts, the Intercollegiate Tennis Association named Western Illinois an all-academic team while individually acknowledging Ballesteros, Ana Bjelica and Mary Bjelica as ITA scholar-athletes.
 
SCOUTING THE BEARS: Missouri State plays host to both Creighton and Western Illinois after defeating SIUE 4-3, in the season opener on Jan. 27. The Bears were chosen to finish fourth in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll with having received one first-place vote. Last season they won the MVC championship for the first time in 15 years, which earned a bid to the NCAA tournament. Returners Ellie Burger, Clara Gandara, Fati Khamissi, and Alexia Meyer were all named to the 2018 All-MVC teams.
 
SCOUTING THE BLUEJAYS: Creighton travels to Springfield, Mo., with a 1-2 record after defeating Drake 4-3 on Jan. 26. Last season the Bluejays finished 15-8 and a sweep over Providence in the Big East Championships. The 15 dual match victories marked the most wins in a single season since 1993. Claire Embree, Erin Epperson, Michaela Henne, and Ashley Ishimura all return to the program after finishing a combined 51-26
 
UP NEXT: Four in-state teams will serve as the Leathernecks' final test before the start of Summit League play as the Purple & Gold travels to St. Ambrose (Feb. 15), Bradley (Feb, 23), Quincy (March 1) and Illinois State (March 2).
 
 
 
 
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