Tennis Falls 4-3 to Western Michigan in MAC Semifinal

Saturday, May 1

University of Akron

Western Michigan

Tennis Falls 4-3 to Western Michigan in MAC Semifinal

May 01 | Women's Tennis

KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The second-seeded University of Akron tennis team was edged 4-3 by third-seeded Western Michigan on Saturday in the semifinal round of the Mid-American Conference Championship, held outdoors at Sorensen Courts on the WMU campus. The Zips closed the season with a 19-3 overall record and advanced farther into the league tournament than any other squad in program history.

After giving up the doubles point, with losses at the second and third flight, Akron took a 2-1 lead thanks to wins at the fourth and first singles positions, respectively. UA's Prang Pantusart made short work of Maggie Remynse 6-1, 6-2 at No. 4, while Zara Harutyunyan topped Emily Dudzik 7-6 (9), 6-1 at No. 1.

Western Michigan (16-10) would claim the next two points, with Jill Pastunink defeating Jeremie Benjamin 6-0, 6-4 at No. 6 and Maria Nivia downing Anya Baronayte 7-5, 6-3 at No. 5 to put the Broncos up 3-2. The Zips made it 3-all, courtesy of a 6-1, 2-6, 6-3 victory by Angelina Jogasuria at No. 2 over Amanda Moccia, but Yumi Matsuto's 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-3 decision at No. 3 gave WMU the match-winning point.

Doubles was as closely contested as singles. The WMU pair of April Kerr and Moccia were the first winners, taking care of Benjamin and Angelina Jogasuria 8-5 at No. 3, but Angelika Jogasuri and Pantusart defeated Dudzik and Pastunink 8-5 at No. 1. The early point was clinched by the Broncos' duo of Matsuto and Nivia, who topped Baronayte and Harutyunyan 8-5 at No. 2.

Western Michigan will take on top-seeded Miami (Ohio) (17-6) in Sunday's title match at noon ET.

The Zips clinched a bye out of the league championship's first-round for the second-consecutive year, after achieving their highest-ever finish in the conference standings. Akron closed out the year with a program single-season record for league wins (7-1) and tallied the most overall victories since the 1990-91 squad posted a 26-6 mark. UA also spent the majority of the dual-match season ranked in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's top 75, being recognized by the governing body of collegiate tennis each week from Feb. 23-April 20 and peaking at No. 63 in both the March 30 and April 6 polls.

During Thursday night's MAC Championship awards banquet, Harutyunyan was named MAC Player of the Year, while Angelina Jogasuria was selected as the league's freshman of the year. Harutyunyan and Jogasuria also earned a spot on the All-MAC First Team. Angelika Jogasuria, Angelina's identical twin, was placed on the All-MAC Second Team. Harutyunyan, who is currently ranked 104th in singles by the ITA, was chosen as player of the year and first-team all-league for the second-straight season. It marked the first time UA has placed two student-athletes on the All-MAC First Team in the same season, with the Zips' three all-league selections this year tying Miami (Ohio) as most of any league member.

RESULTS

(3) Western Michigan 4, (2) Akron 3

Doubles:
1. Angelika Jogasuria/Prang Pantusart (AKRON) def. Emily Dudzik/Jill Pastunink (WMU) 8-5
2. Yumi Matsuto/Maria Nivia (WMU) def. Anya Baronayte/Zara Harutyunyan (AKRON) 8-5
3. April Kerr/Amanda Moccia (WMU) def. Jeremie Benjamin/Angelina Jogasuria (AKRON) 8-5

Singles:
1. (104) Zara Harutyunyan (AKRON) def. Emily Dudzik (WMU) 7-6 (9), 6-1
2. Angelina Jogasuria (AKRON) def. Amanda Moccia (WMU) 6-1, 2-6, 6-3
3. Yumi Matsuto (WMU) def. Angelika Jogasuria (AKRON) 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-3
4. Prang Pantusart (AKRON) def. Maggie Remynse (WMU) 6-1, 6-2
5. Maria Nivia (WMU) def. Anya Baronayte (AKRON) 7-5, 6-3
6. Jill Pastunink (WMU) def. Jeremie Benjamin (AKRON) 6-0, 6-4