Tennis Knocked From MAC Championship By Western Michigan

Friday, April 24

University of Akron

Western Michigan

Tennis Knocked From MAC Championship By Western Michigan

April 24 | Women's Tennis

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The sixth-seeded University of Akron tennis team lost 4-0 to third-seeded Western Michigan on Friday in the quarterfinal round of the Mid-American Conference Championship indoors at Perrysburg Tennis Center. Due to high winds, the match was moved inside from Keefe Courts on the Bowling Green campus.

The loss eliminated the Zips (15-8) from the tournament, while the Broncos (20-7) advanced to take on second-seeded Buffalo in Saturday's semifinal.

Western Michigan took the early advantage by claiming the doubles point, behind victories at the second and third positions, and won at the Nos. 1, 3 and 4 singles spots in straight sets. At No. 1 singles, All-MAC First Team pick and league player-of-the-year Zara Harutyunyan fell 6-4, 6-1 to Kerstin Pahl, while at No. 3 Tanyaradzwa Gombera lost 6-2, 6-2 to Ashley Moccia, and Jeremie Benjamin was defeated 6-0, 6-0 at No. 4 by Maria Nivia.

At the time the match was clinched, WMU led 6-0, 3-4 at No. 2 singles, and 5-0 at No. 5. Additionally, the UA pair of Harutyunyan and Anna Baronayte led 7-6 at No. 1 doubles when WMU secured the early point. Baronayte joins Harutyunyan with all-conference honors, being named to the second team.

The MAC Championship runs through Sunday, with the winner earning an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. Akron closed out the season with a winning record for the first time since the 1995-96 squad finished 12-9.

RESULTS

(3) Western Michigan 4, (6) Akron 0

Doubles
1. Harutyunyan/Baronayte (UA) led Dudzik/Matsuto (WMU) 7-6
2. Pahl/Amanda Moccia (WMU) def. Gombera/Castro Cota (UA) 8-0
3. Nalepa/Ashley Moccia (WMU) def. Benjamin/Berry (UA) 8-3

Singles
1. Kerstin Pahl (WMU) def. Zara Harutyunyan (UA) 6-4, 6-1
2. Jenny Nalepa (WMU) led Anna Baronayte (UA) 6-0, 3-4
3. Ashley Moccia (WMU) def. Tanyaradzwa Gombera (UA) 6-2, 6-2
4. Maria Nivia (WMU) def. Jeremie Benjamin (UA) 6-0, 6-0
5. Amanda Moccia (WMU) led Carolina Castro Cota (UA) 5-0
6. Yumi Matsuto (WMU) vs. Lindsey Berry (UA) DNF

Order of Finish
Doubles – 2, 3, (1 DNF)
Singles – 4, 3, 1 (2, 5, 6 DNF)