The University of Akron Athletics
Tennis Edged 4-3 by Miami in Pivotal MAC Meeting
April 22 | Women's Tennis
OXFORD, Ohio - The University of Akron tennis team dropped a 4-3 decision to Miami (Ohio) on Friday afternoon indoors at Riverside Racquet Club.
Both squads entered the day undefeated in Mid-American
Conference play and the RedHawks' (16-5, 7-0 MAC) narrow victory
earned them the top seed in next week's league tournament and at
least a share of the conference's regular-season title. A Zips'
(16-4, 6-1 MAC) win on Saturday at Ball State and a Miami loss
tomorrow against Buffalo would mean the programs would be
co-champions. However, if the RedHawks take down the Bulls, they
would own the title outright.
Friday's outcome ended Akron's eight-match win streak (dating to
March 18), while Miami tallied its 24th-straight victory in MAC
regular-season play. The Zips and RedHawks meeting last season came
under a similar scenario as both had started the league race 5-0
before the RedHawks claimed a 4-3 decision in Akron on April 17.
Miami was MAC regular season and tournament champion a year
ago.
On the court today, Miami took an early one-point lead by winning
two of three doubles flights, with the final score at all three
positions being 8-2. MU's Megan Martzolf and Stephanie Danesis
defeating UA's Zara
Harutyunyan and Angelina
Jogasuria at No. 1, and Cara Wald and Anastasia Dracheva
disposed of Anya
Baronayte and Jeremie
Benjamin at No. 3. The Zips pair of Angelika
Jogasuria and Prang
Pantusart won at No. 2 over Riekie Honiball and Jessica
Parr.
In singles play, Akron scored its points at Nos. 1, 3 and 4, two of
which were decided in three sets. At No. 1, Harutyunyan took down
Danesis, 6-1, 6-7 (3-7), 6-4. Angelika
Jogasuria was the victor at No. 3, winning 6-2, 6-7
(5-7), 7-5 against Martzolf. At No. 4, Pantusart got the best of
Honiball, 6-2, 7-5.
Dracheva defeated Angelina
Jogasuria at No. 2, 6-4, 6-3. Nimisha Mohan got
Baronayte at No. 5, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4, and Wald knocked off Natalia
Kuvakina 6-4, 6-3 at No. 6.
Akron's match tomorrow at Ball State is scheduled for a 1 p.m. ET
start. The MAC tournament runs April 28-May 1 in Ypsilanti, Mich.,
and will be hosted by Eastern Michigan.
Miami (Ohio) 4, Akron 3
Doubles
1. Megan Martzolf/Stephanie Danesis (Miami) def. Zara
Harutyunyan/Angelina
Jogasuria (Akron) 8-2
2. Angelika
Jogasuria/Prang
Pantusart (Akron) def. Riekie Honiball/Jessica
Parr (Miami) 8-2
3. Cara Wald/Anastasia Dracheva (Miami) def. Anya
Baronayte/Jeremie
Benjamin (Akron) 8-2
Singles
1. Zara
Harutyunyan (Akron) def. Stephanie Danesis
(Miami) 6-1, 6-7 (3-7), 6-4
2. Anastasia Dracheva (Miami) def. Angelina
Jogasuria (Akron) 6-4, 6-3
3. Angelika
Jogasuria (Akron) def. Megan Martzolf (Miami)
6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 7-5
4. Prang
Pantusart (Akron) def. Riekie Honiball (Miami)
6-2, 7-5
5. Nimisha Mohan (Miami) def. Anya
Baronayte (Akron) 7-6 (7-3), 6-4
6. Cara Wald (Miami) def. Natalia
Kuvakina (Akron) 6-4, 6-3
Order of finish:
Doubles - 2, 1, 3
Singles - 2, 4, 6, 5, 1, 3
Team records:
Akron - 16-4, 6-1 MAC
Miami (Ohio) - 16-5, 7-0 MAC
