The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Eastern Michigan
Zips Set New Program Record with 16th Straight Win
March 26 | Women's Tennis
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AKRON, Ohio – The Zips set a new program record with their 16th straight win in a 7-0 sweep of Eastern Michigan on Sunday afternoon at LaTuchie Tennis Center.
Akron improves to 17-2 (2-0 MAC) with the win, while Eastern Michigan drops to 6-10 (1-1 MAC).
The 16 straight wins breaks the previous mark of 15 that had been set during the 2010 season.
"I give a lot of credit to Eastern Michigan for how hard they fought today. The final score doesn't show how close the match truly was. We were pushed hard today and I'm proud of the effort put forth from everyone. Each person stepped up when they had to and made the shots necessary to come away with a big team win," said head coach Brandon Padgett.
The Zips clinched the doubles point courtesy of wins from the duos of junior Carli Knezevich (Austin, Texas)/senior Karolina Maksimova (Mogilev, Belarus) and senior Shannon Newnes (Romford, London)/freshman Rita Pedroso (Porto, Portugal).
Knezevich/Maksimova improved to 15-1 this spring with a 7-5 victory over EMU's Marie Mayerova/Andrea Martinovska. Newnes/Pedroso posted a 6-3 win over the Eagles' duo of Anna Veleva/Renu Sharma.
Junior Sophia Geier (Burgebrach, Germany) captured her 16th straight singles match by virtue of taking a 6-3, 6-4 decision against Mayerova.
At the No. 2 singles spot, junior Ariadna Blinova (Riga, Latvia) topped EMU's Ani Gogvadze in a straight-set victory (6-3, 6-3).
Pedroso got the best of Martinovska in a three-set thriller, 7-6 (3), 4-6, 1-0 (9) at the third singles spot.
Maksimova and Knezevich picked up wins at the No. 4 and 6 singles spots, respectively. Maksimova toppled Maria Paula Ribero, 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (8) and Knezevich notched a 6-2, 6-4 victory over the Eagles' Alejandra Barcelo Almoyna.
In No. 5 singles action, Newnes took a 6-3, 7-5 decision against Veleva.
The Zips will be back in action on Tuesday, March 28, with a 5 p.m. match at Kennesaw State.
AKRON 7, EASTERN MICHIGAN 0
LaTuchie Tennis Center
March 26, 2017
Doubles:
1. Carli Knezevich/Karalina Maksimava (UA) def. Marie Mayerova/Andrea Martinovska, 7-5
2. Ani Gogvadze/Maria Paula Ribero (EMU) def. Ariadna Blinova/Sophia Geier, 6-4
3. Shannon Newnes/Rita Pedroso (UA) def. Anna Veleva/Renu Sharma, 6-3.
Singles:
1. Sophia Geier (UA) def. Marie Mayerova, 6-3, 6-4
2. Ariadna Blinova (UA) def. Ani Gogvadze, 6-3, 6-3
3. Rita Pedroso (UA) def. Andrea Martinovska, 7-6 (3), 4-6, 1-0 (9)
4. Karolina Maksimova (UA) def. Maria Paula Ribero, 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (8)
5. Shannon Newnes (UA) def. Anna Veleva, 6-3, 7-5
6. Carli Knezevich (UA) def. Alejandra Barcelo Almoyna, 6-2, 6-4
Order of Finish:
Doubles— 3, 2, 1
Singles— 2, 6, 1, 5, 3, 4
Team Records:
Akron (17-2, 2-0 MAC)
Eastern Michigan (6-10, 1-1 MAC)
Players Mentioned
