The University of Akron Athletics
Tennis Downs Bowling Green, 5-2, Wins Fourth Straight
March 26 | Women's Tennis
AKRON, Ohio - The University of Akron tennis
team swept the opening weekend of Mid-American Conference play and
extended its win streak to four matches, defeating Bowling Green
5-2 on Saturday at LaTuchie Tennis Center.
Despite a late rally on the doubles court, Akron (12-3, 2-0) gave
up the early point, but rebounded with victories at Nos. 1-5 and 6
singles to earn its fourth-straight win in the all-time series
against Bowling Green (10-4, 1-1) and remain atop the league
standings after the first week of conference competition. UA
defeated Western Michigan 6-1 on Friday.
"Opening league play with a 2-0 record is a great start and is what
we needed to do as we aim toward our goal of claiming the MAC
title," first-year Akron head coach Brandon
Padgett said. "It is important to defend your home
court, but our next three matches come on the road against good
competition so we need to maintain our focus to keep the run
going."
At No. 2 doubles, UA's Zara
Harutyunyan and Angelina
Jogasuria, ranked 27th nationally, won 8-1 over Jade
Johnson and Katie Grubb. The Zips' pair at No. 1 and 3 did not go
down easy. After scoring four unanswered points to pull with 7-6 at
No. 1, Prang
Pantusart and Angelika
Jogasuria lost 8-6 to Christina Chiricosta and Maddy
Eccleston. At No. 3, Jeremie
Benjamin and Anya
Baronayte lost 9-8 (2) to Nikki Chiricosta and Mary
Hill. Benjamin and Baronayte trailed 6-3, but used an impressive
run to make it 8-all.
The Zips had much less trouble in singles play, earning
straight-set wins at Nos. 1, 3, 4 and 6, and a three-set triumph at
No. 2.
Harutyunyan scored a 6-3, 6-2 win over Christine Chiricosta at No.
1, Angelika
Jogasuria won 7-5, 6-2 at No. 3, Pantusart defeated Hill
6-1, 6-0 at No. 4 and Natalia
Kuvakina bested Johnson 6-2, 6-1 at No. 6. Angelina
Jogasuria earned a 3-6, 6-0, 6-3 victory at No. 2 over
Eccleston.
With match point already clinched, the Falcons' second point of the
day came at No. 5 singles where Emily Reuland got the best of Anya
Baronayte 6-4, 3-6, 10-7. Since the contest had already
been won by Akron, the third set was played as a 10-point
tiebreaker.
The Zips next three contests are on the road against MAC foes
Buffalo (April 2), Eastern Michigan (April 8) and Toledo (April
9).
Akron 5, Bowling Green 2
Doubles
1. Christine Chiricosta/Maddy Eccleston (BGSU) def. Prang
Pantusart/Angelika
Jogasuria (Akron) 8-6
2. (27) Zara
Harutyunyan/Angelina
Jogasuria (Akron) def. Jade Johnson/Katie
Grubb (BGSU)8-1
3. Nikki Chiricosta/Mary Hill (BGSU) def. Jeremie
Benjamin/Anya
Baronayte (Akron) 9-8 (2)
Singles
1. Zara
Harutyunyan (Akron) def. Christine
Chiricosta (BGSU) 6-3, 6-2
2. Angelina
Jogasuria (Akron) def. Maddy Eccleston (BGSU)
3-6, 6-0, 6-3
3. Angelika
Jogasuria (Akron) def. Nikki Chiricosta (BGSU)
7-5, 6-2
4. Prang
Pantusart (Akron) def. Mary Hill (BGSU)
6-1, 6-0
5. Emily Reuland (BGSU) def. Anya
Baronayte (Akron) 4-6, 6-3, 10-7
6. Natalia
Kuvakina (Akron)
def. Jade Johnson (BGSU) 6-2, 6-1
Order of finish:
Doubles - 2, 1, 3
Singles - 4, 6, 1, 2, 3, 5
Team records:
Akron - 12-3, 2-0 MAC
Bowling Green - 10-4, 1-1 MAC
