Women's Tennis Improves to 2-0 in MAC Standings

Sunday, March 27

1 pm

University of Akron

Toledo

March 27 | Women's Tennis

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MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

AKRON, Ohio — The University of Akron women's tennis team improved to 2-0 against Mid-American Conference competition thanks to a 5-2 victory over Toledo on Sunday afternoon at the Outdoor Tennis Facility.

"Outstanding win today for the team," head coach Brandon Padgett said. "We started out a little slow in doubles, but came through extremely strong in singles, from beginning to end."

Akron gave up the doubles point with losses at the No. 1 and 3 spots in its lineup, but rallied with five victories out of the six singles flights to improve to 12-6 overall this season.

The Zips' points came at Nos. 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 singles. Sophomore Ariadna Blinova (Riga, Latvia) topped Emily Mazzola 7-5, 6-0 at No. 1 while classmate Sophia Geier (Burgebrach, Germany) bested Sidnay Huck 7-5, 6-3 at No. 2 singles.

Senior Martina Zerbola (Neuquen, Argentina) overwhelmed Toledo's Megan Miller 6-1, 6-2 at the No. 4 spot before freshman Luisa Echeverry (Cali, Columbia) took down Claire Aleck, 6-4, 6-1 at the No. 5 position. Sophomore Carli Knezevich (Austin, Texas) competed in a three set match against UT's Lauren Thai, coming out on top of a 6-7 (4), 6-4, 1-0 (6) decision at No. 6 singles.

The Zips' lone win on the doubles courts came by a score of 6-1 from Geier and Knezevich over Mackenzie Bowman and Aleck.

"Today we showed just how deep we are, winning seven out of eight singles matches played, including the two exhibition matches," Padgett concluded. "I am certainly pleased with our start to the conference season, finding a way to defeat two teams that were picked to finish ahead of us in the coaches poll."

Akron continues league play on Friday, April 1 with a 2 p.m. match at Northern Illinois before returning home to host Western Michigan on Sunday, April 3.

Zips Notebook: Akron is 8-1 in home matches this season...today marked the fifth time this year UA has won by a count of 5-2...Ariadna Blinova ran her singles win streak to six matches while holding a 15-1 dual match record.

AKRON 5, TOLEDO 2

March 27, 2016

Doubles:

1. Emily Mazzola/Sidnay Huck (UT) def. Karalina Maksimava/Shannon Newnes (UA) 6-2

2. Sophia Geier/Carli Knezevich (UA) def. Mackenzie Bowman/Claire Aleck (UT) 6-1

3. Lauren Thai/Megan Miller (UT) def. Martina Zerbola/Luisa Echeverry (UA) 6-4

Singles:

1. Blinova (UA) def. Mazzola (UT) 7-5, 6-0

2. Geier (UA) def. Huck (UT) 7-5, 6-3

3. Colleen O'Brien (UT) def. Newnes (UA) 6-2, 3-6, 6-1

4. Zerbola (UA) def. Miller (UT) 6-1, 6-2

5. Echeverry (UA) def. Aleck (UT) 6-4, 6-1