Tennis Knocked From MAC Tournament By NIU

Thursday, April 26

University of Akron

Northern Illinois

April 26 | Women's Tennis

TOLEDO, Ohio – The ninth-seeded University of Akron tennis team lost 4-0 to eighth-seeded Northern Illinois on Thursday in the first round of play in the Mid-American Conference Championship at Laurel Hill Courts. The loss eliminated the Zips (9-13) from the tournament, while the Huskies (6-11) advanced to take on top-seeded and nationally-ranked Western Michigan in Friday's quarterfinal round.

Northern Illinois (6-11) took the early advantage by claiming the doubles point behind victories at the second and third positions. The Huskies tandem of Nao Umemura and Lilian Asuaje downed the Zips pair of Jenna Larson and Lindsey Berry 8-3 at No. 2, while NIU's Doris Delgadillo and Jenny Edner defeated UA's Aude Percherin and Alyssa Carlson 8-2 at No. 3.

When the doubles point was clinched, UA's Tanya Gombera and Amy Sherlock led 5-4 at No. 1 over Megan Brooks and Brooke Forsberg.

The Huskies carried their momentum onto the singles courts, winning at Nos. 2, 3, and 5 in straight sets to clinch the match victory. Edner made quick work of Larson at No. 2, 6-0, 6-0. Umemura defeated Sherlock at No. 3, 6-2, 6-1; and Delgadillo bettered Carlson at No. 5, 6-2, 6-1.

At the time the match was clinched Gombera led at No. 1 following a 6-3 first-set win, while Berry and Forsberg were tied 6-all at the No. 4 spot. The Zips Laura Hemlepp trailed 6-3, 1-0 at No. 6.

The MAC Championship runs through Sunday, with the winner earning an automatic bid into the NCAA tournament.

(8) Northern Illinois 4, (9) Akron 0
MAC Championship – Opening Round
Laurel Hill Courts – Toledo, Ohio

Doubles
1-Gombera/Sherlock (UA) vs. Brooks/Forsberg (NIU) 5-4 (DNF)
2-Umemura/Asuaje (NIU) def. Larson/Berry (UA) 8-3
3-Delgadillo/Edner (NIU) def. Aude Percherin/Carlson (UA) 8-2

Singles
1-Tanya Gombera (UA) vs. Lilian Asuaje (NIU) 6-3 (DNF)
2-Jenny Edner (NIU) def. Jenna Larson (UA) 6-0, 6-0
3-Nao Umemura (NIU) def. Amy Sherlock (UA) 6-2, 6-1
4-Brooke Forsberg (NIU) vs. Lindsey Berry (UA) 6-6 (DNF)
5-Doris Delgadillo (NIU) def. Alyssa Carlson (UA) 6-2, 6-1
6-Megan Brooks (NIU) vs. Laura Hemlepp (UA) 6-3, 1-0 (DNF)