The University of Akron Athletics
Tennis Downs Ball State 4-3, Wins Third Straight
April 03 | Women's Tennis
MUNCIE, Ind. – The University of Akron
tennis team tallied its third-straight victory, topping Ball State
4-3 on Friday in a Mid-American Conference match at the YMCA Tennis
Center. The Zips, who improved to 14-4 overall and 3-1 in league
play, defeated the Cardinals (5-8, 0-3 MAC) for the first time
since 1993 and also won for the eighth time in nine outings this
season.
The Zips claimed the doubles point for the ninth-straight and 15th
time in the last 16 matches, winning at all three positions –
8-4 at No. 1 by Zara Harutyunyan and Anna
Baronayte, 8-4 at No. 2 by Tanyaradzwa
Gombera and Carolina Castro Cota and 8-6 at No. 3 by Jeremie
Benjamin and Lindsey Berry. Harutyunyan and Baronayte have
teamed to win 23-straight doubles meetings. It was Castro Cota's
first taste of competition since mid-February due to a broken
wrist.
Straight-set wins at Nos. 1-3 singles clinched the match for
Akron. Harutyunyan won 6-3, 6-0 at No. 1, Baronayte 6-3, 6-4 at No.
2 and Gombera 6-3, 7-6 (3) at No. 3. UA suffered defeats at the
Nos. 4-6 spots.
Notching its third league win this season, the Zips have equaled
their all-time best MAC victory total. The program went 3-3 in 1993
(its inaugural season in the conference) and 3-6 in 1999. Friday's
win likely guarantees the squad a bye in the first round of MAC
Championship, to be held later this month on the campus of Bowling
Green. That would be a first-time accomplishment for the program
since the MAC went to its current playoff format in 2000.
The Zips continue conference play on Saturday by traveling to Miami
(Ohio) for a noon EDT match. The program looks for its first-ever
win versus the RedHawks.
RESULTS
Akron 4, Ball State 3
Doubles
1. Harutyunyan/Baronayte (UA) def. Thomson/Boulieris (BSU) 8-4
2. Gombera/Castro Cota (UA) def. Hebble/Johnson (BSU) 8-4
3. Benjamin/Berry (UA) def. Oman/Surowiec (BSU) 8-6
Singles
1. Zara Harutyunyan (UA) def. Sarah Hebble (BSU)
6-3, 6-0
2. Anna Baronayte (UA) def. Dena Boulieris (BSU)
6-3, 6-4
3. Tanyaradzwa Gombera (UA) def. Kylee Johnson (BSU)
6-3, 7-6 (3)
4. Hayley Hall (BSU) def. Jeremie
Benjamin (UA) 6-0, 6-1
5. Georgina Thomson (BSU) def. Kerry
Langworthy (UA) 7-6 (2), 6-4
6. Hanna Oman (BSU) def. Carolina Castro Cota (UA) 6-4, 6-4
