The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Robert Morris
Tennis Breezes Past Robert Morris 7-0 in Season Opener
January 16 | Women's Tennis
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MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – The University of Akron women's tennis team posted a 7-0 win over Robert Morris in the season opener for both squads on Thursday afternoon at Trumbull Tennis Center.
Akron (1-0) grabbed the early doubles point with victories at the first and second flights, then posted straight-set wins at Nos. 1, 2 and 3 singles to secure match point and improve its all-time series record versus Robert Morris (0-1) to 11-0.
"We saw five of our six players compete in their first-ever dual match today and, at times, it certainly looked like it," Akron head coach Brandon Padgett said. "However, it was nice to see the way they responded."
Martina Zerbola's 6-2, 6-3 victory at No. 1 singles over Carolina Mourao Teixeira clinched the decisive point for the Zips, after Ksenia Berestetska topped Alina Schibol 6-1, 6-1 at No. 3 and Karolina Maksimava got the best of Diana Mirceta 6-2, 6-0 at No. 2.
Also winning in singles for UA was Caroline Harpaintner over Marie-Sophie Heine 3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (3) at No. 4, Shannon Newnes versus Larissa Kiyoku 6-2, 6-3 at No. 5 and Marta Briega against Dounia Zinbi 6-2, 6-4 at No. 6.
For the Zips in doubles, it was Zerbola and Berestetska over Mirceta and Schibol 6-3 at No. 1, while Maksimava and Harpaintner downed Teixeira and Zinbi 6-1 at No. 2. RMU's Heine and Kiyoku defeated Newnes and Briega 6-2 at No. 3.
Akron continues a stretch of four matches in three days on Friday when it visits West Virginia for a 1 p.m. ET contest. The Zips compete at Dayton and Wright State on Saturday at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively.
"Tomorrow will be extremely tough, and we will definitely need to come out playing stronger from top to bottom," Padgett said. "Overall though, I am pleased with how we played today."
Zips Notebook: All Division-I women's non-conference matches that are played through the Team Indoor Championships on Feb. 10 will use an experimental format ... doubles matches will consist of one set, with regular scoring and a tie-breaker at 6-all ... singles matches will be two out of three sets, with each set using regular scoring and a match tie-breaker in lieu of the third set.
Akron 7, Robert Morris 0
Doubles:
1. Martina Zerbola/Ksenia Berestetska (UA) def. Diana Mirceta/Alina Schibol (RMU) 6-3
2. Karolina Maksimava/Caroline Harpaintner (UA) def. Carolina Mourao Teixeira/Dounia Zinbi (RMU) 6-1
3. Marie-Sophie Heine/Larissa Kiyoku (RMU) def. Shannon Newnes/Marta Briega (UA) 6-2
Singles:
1. Martina Zerbola (UA) def. Carolina Mourao Teixeira (RMU) 6-2, 6-3
2. Karolina Maksimava (UA) def. Diana Mirceta (RMU) 6-2, 6-0
3. Ksenia Berestetska (UA) def. Alina Schibol (RMU) 6-1, 6-1
4. Caroline Harpaintner (UA) def. Marie-Sophie Heine (RMU) 3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (3)
5. Shannon Newnes (UA) def. Larissa Kiyoku (RMU) 6-2, 6-3
6. Marta Briega (UA) def. Dounia Zinbi (RMU) 6-2, 6-4
Order of finish:
Doubles – 1, 2, 3
Singles – 3, 2, 1, 5, 4, 6
Team records:
Akron – 1-0
Robert Morris – 0-1
Players Mentioned
