Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Redbird Invitational
Racers Face All-Valley Field at Redbird Invitational
10/1/2026 3:30:00 PM | Women's Tennis
MURRAY, Ky. - Murray State women's tennis continues its fall schedule this weekend at the Redbird Invitational, where every team in the field is a Missouri Valley Conference opponent.
Host Illinois State is joined by Belmont, Bradley, Drake, Northern Iowa, UIC and Valparaiso. The Racers will not see most of these programs again until the spring dual season, making the weekend an early read on the league.
Murray State arrives a week after the Austin Peay Invitational, where it went 8-11 in singles and 1-8 in doubles across three days in Clarksville. Senior Aada Inna was the lone Racer to finish unbeaten, sweeping three singles matches without dropping a set. Junior Yu Kikawa and senior Varvara Alexeyeva each went 2-1. Inna and senior Valeria Chaikovskaia combined for the only doubles win of the weekend.
Racers to Watch
- Valeria Chaikovskaia - Played all 21 dual matches at No. 1 singles last season, going 12-7 overall and 6-1 in conference play.
- Rebecca Widan - Posted an 11-4 singles record at No. 6, the best winning percentage on the team.
- Yu Kikawa - Won 11 singles matches in the spring and opened the fall 2-1 at Austin Peay.
- Aada Inna - The Nicholls State transfer has yet to lose a singles match in a Murray State uniform.
