The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Cleveland State
Women's Tennis Drops Close Match at Cleveland State
March 09 | Women's Tennis
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CLEVELAND, Ohio — The University of Akron women's tennis team fell in a close 4-3 midweek decision to Cleveland State on Saturday evening at the Medical Mutual Tennis Pavilion.
"I am extremely disappointed in today's result," said head coach Brandon Padgett. "Today was the opening of Cleveland State's new indoor facility, and they came out ready to go, with a strong contingent of fans that helped pull them through in the end."
UA (9-4) took three singles matches against the Vikings but came up short in doubles play.
"I took a chance today and played two players that have been out of the line-up for about a month, with only two days of hitting, but I would do it again," Padgett concluded. "In the end, our focus is on the MAC season, and we must have everyone ready to compete."
Sophomores Ariadna Blinova (Riga, Latvia) and Sophia Geier (Burgebrach, Germany) both defeated their opponents to claim their tenth victory of the season. Blinova bested Cleveland State's Mathilde Orange, 7-5, 6-1 in the No. 1 spot while Geier overpowered Isabella Spindler, 6-1, 6-0 in No. 2 singles. At No. 6 singles, freshman Luisa Echeverry also beat CSU's Jana Schober, 6-3, 6-0.
"Our younger players, Ariadna, Luisa, and Sophia continue to lead the team with excellent singles play. Luisa and Martina remain strong in doubles for us, but we need our upperclassmen to take control and lead this team," Padgett concluded. "We must give credit to Cleveland State for stepping up and playing well across the board, and we must look inward at our own level of play and focus. The talent is there for us, without a doubt, but talent doesn't win matches, determination, heart, fight, and mental toughness wins matches, and each player must check each box off in every match played, if she truly wants to be successful. Athletics is very much like life: you must put everything you have into it, if you expect to see true success."
The Zips host Detroit on Saturday, March 12 to face off against the Titans for a 10 a.m. match at the LaTuchie Tennis Center.
CLEVELAND STATE 4, AKRON 3
March 9, 2016
Doubles:
1. Isabella Spindler/Aleksandra Golawska (CSU) def. Sophia Geier/Carli Knezevich (AKR) 6-4
2. Victoria Bensimon/Morgan Nix (CSU) vs. Martina Zerbola/Luisa Echeverry (AKR) 1-5, unfinished
3. Mathilde Orange/Princess Gbadamosi (CSU) def. Ariadna Blinova/Karolina Maksimova (AKR) 6-1
Singles:
1. Ariadna Blinova (AKR) def. Mathilde Orange (CSU) 7-5, 6-1
2. Sophia Geier (AKR) def. Isabella Spindler (CSU) 6-1, 6-0
3. Princess Gbadamosi (CSU) def. Carli Knezevich (AKR) 6-3, 6-3
4. Victoria Bensimon(CSU-W) def. Shannon Newnes (AKR) 7-5, 7-6 (7-1)
5. Aleksandra Golawska (CSU) def. Martina Zerbola (AKR) 6-2, 3-6, 6-4
6. Luisa Echeverry (AKR) def. Jana Schober (CSU) 6-3, 6-0
Order of finish:
Doubles– 3, 1
Singles– 2, 6, 1, 3, 4, 5
Team Records:
Akron (9-4 overall, 0-0 MAC)
CSU (4-5 overall, 0-0 Horizon)
Players Mentioned
