DePaul University Athletics

Jovicic Leads DePaul to 'A Great Day'
9/19/2021 8:22:00 PM | WOMEN'S TENNIS
Singles title for Jovicic, doubles title for Antonijevic and Kizelbasheva at Redbird Invite
NORMAL, Ill. – It was a day of celebrations for DePaul women's tennis Sunday at the Redbird Invite hosted by Illinois State.
The day began in dramatic fashion with the doubles team of Lenka Antonijevic and Yuliya Kizelbasheva falling behind the home team tandem of Tijana Zlatanovic and Maria Potsi facing double match point.
Reaching down into their reservoir of resolve, the Blue Demon duo rallied for an 8-7(5) victory to claim the doubles title.
Perhaps inspired by that comeback, Marija Jovicic continued her weekend dominance with a 6-1, 6-1 triumph over Kristina Pukhaeva of Chicago State for the singles title.
In sweeping all three of her matches over the weekend, Jovicic did not allow any of her opponents to win more than two games in any set.
Coach Marisa Arce's team wound up with first, second and third-place finishes in doubles. Antonijevic and Kizelbasheva won Flight 1, Maddie Yergler and Jovicic were runner-up in Flight 2 and Eleanor Nobbs and Valentina Martin finished third in Flight 3.
In singles, Yergler topped Elizabeth Desmerais 7-5, 6-3 to claim third place in Flight 4. Flight 5 found Nobbs taking down Tiana Windbuchler of rival Marquette 6-3, 6-0. That was a noteworthy win for the freshman from Bath England against a BIG EAST opponent.
Martin had quite a battle with Saint Louis' Kate Sexton in her third-place match before coming through with a 2-6, 6-4, 10-6 victory. That gave the Blue Demons one singles title and three third-place finishes.
Arce was pleased with all the Sunday success calling it "a great day," and is looking forward to next weekend's ITA Midwest Regionals at Illinois.
Redbird Invite
Sept. 19, 2021
Normal, Ill.
Singles
Yuliya Kizelbasheva (DePaul) def. Gabrielle Ochalik (IUPUI) 6-1, 6-3
Marija Jovicic (DePaul) def. Kristina Pukhaeva (Chicago State) 6-1, 6-1
Maddie Yergler (DePaul) def. Elisabeth Desmarais (Marquette) 7-5, 6-3
Eleanor Nobbs (DePaul) def. Tiana Windbuchler (Marquette) 6-3, 6-0
Valentina Martin (DePaul) def. Kate Sexton (Saint Louis) 2-6, 6-4, 10-6
Laura Fitzgerald (Illinois State) def. Kaya Rand (DePaul) 7-6 (0-1), 2-6, 11-9
Doubles
Lenka Antonijevic/Yuliya Kizelbasheva (DePaul) def. Tijana Zlatanovic/Maria Potsi (Illinois State) 8-7(5)
Norhan Hesham/Elizabeth Mintusova (Saint Louis) def. Maddie Yergler/Marija Jovicic (DePaul) 8-4
Eleanor Nobbs/Valentina Martin (DePaul) def. Lizi Morgoshia/Diana Borodina (Chicago State) by forfeit
The day began in dramatic fashion with the doubles team of Lenka Antonijevic and Yuliya Kizelbasheva falling behind the home team tandem of Tijana Zlatanovic and Maria Potsi facing double match point.
Reaching down into their reservoir of resolve, the Blue Demon duo rallied for an 8-7(5) victory to claim the doubles title.
Perhaps inspired by that comeback, Marija Jovicic continued her weekend dominance with a 6-1, 6-1 triumph over Kristina Pukhaeva of Chicago State for the singles title.
In sweeping all three of her matches over the weekend, Jovicic did not allow any of her opponents to win more than two games in any set.
Coach Marisa Arce's team wound up with first, second and third-place finishes in doubles. Antonijevic and Kizelbasheva won Flight 1, Maddie Yergler and Jovicic were runner-up in Flight 2 and Eleanor Nobbs and Valentina Martin finished third in Flight 3.
In singles, Yergler topped Elizabeth Desmerais 7-5, 6-3 to claim third place in Flight 4. Flight 5 found Nobbs taking down Tiana Windbuchler of rival Marquette 6-3, 6-0. That was a noteworthy win for the freshman from Bath England against a BIG EAST opponent.
Martin had quite a battle with Saint Louis' Kate Sexton in her third-place match before coming through with a 2-6, 6-4, 10-6 victory. That gave the Blue Demons one singles title and three third-place finishes.
Arce was pleased with all the Sunday success calling it "a great day," and is looking forward to next weekend's ITA Midwest Regionals at Illinois.
Redbird Invite
Sept. 19, 2021
Normal, Ill.
Singles
Yuliya Kizelbasheva (DePaul) def. Gabrielle Ochalik (IUPUI) 6-1, 6-3
Marija Jovicic (DePaul) def. Kristina Pukhaeva (Chicago State) 6-1, 6-1
Maddie Yergler (DePaul) def. Elisabeth Desmarais (Marquette) 7-5, 6-3
Eleanor Nobbs (DePaul) def. Tiana Windbuchler (Marquette) 6-3, 6-0
Valentina Martin (DePaul) def. Kate Sexton (Saint Louis) 2-6, 6-4, 10-6
Laura Fitzgerald (Illinois State) def. Kaya Rand (DePaul) 7-6 (0-1), 2-6, 11-9
Doubles
Lenka Antonijevic/Yuliya Kizelbasheva (DePaul) def. Tijana Zlatanovic/Maria Potsi (Illinois State) 8-7(5)
Norhan Hesham/Elizabeth Mintusova (Saint Louis) def. Maddie Yergler/Marija Jovicic (DePaul) 8-4
Eleanor Nobbs/Valentina Martin (DePaul) def. Lizi Morgoshia/Diana Borodina (Chicago State) by forfeit
Players Mentioned
WTEN: Yuliya Kizelbasheva Be the Match Interview
Thursday, August 31
Yuliya Kizelbasheva: Be The Match Interview
Thursday, August 31
REACTION: DePaul Women's Tennis NCAA Tournament
Tuesday, May 02
DePaul Tennis: Talents and Tricks
Wednesday, April 26













