The University of Akron Athletics
Women's Tennis Sweeps Kennesaw St. to Win 17th Straight
March 29 | Women's Tennis
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KENNESAW, Ga. – The Akron women's tennis team won their 17th straight match with a 7-0 sweep of Kennesaw State at the Betty Siegel Courts in Kennesaw, Ga.
The Zips improve to 18-2 (2-0 MAC) with the win, while the Owls fall to 5-9 (1-1 ASUN).
"It was great being outside today in perfect tennis weather. We played average doubles, but managed to come away with an important point. We were provided with some excellent motivation towards the end of doubles, which really set the tone for us as we closed out the doubles and moved forward to the singles portion of the match," said head coach Brandon Padgett.
"Our focus was much sharper and we were awakened on the court so to speak so we have our opponents to thank for that," added Padgett.
The duos of junior Ariadna Blinova (Riga, Latvia)/junior Sophia Geier (Burgebrach, Germany) and junior Carli Knezevich (Austin, Texas) sophomore Luisa Echeverry (Cali, Colombia) helped the Zips clinch the doubles point.
Blinova/Geier posted a 7-6 (5) win over Kennesaw State's Laura Hopton/Cristina Perez-Martin, while Knezevich/Echeverry topped Jessica Cantrell/Jada Tijani, 7-6 (4).
At the No. 1 singles spot, Geier took a 6-3, 6-1 decision against KSU's Alexandra Mercado to improve to 17-1 in singles play this spring.
Blinova got the best of Perez-Martin in straight sets (6-2, 6-2) in second singles action.
Freshman Rita Pedroso (Porto, Portugal) registered a 6-4, 6-0 win over Hopton at the No. 3 singles spot.
At the No. 4 singles spot, Echeverry swept the Owls' Kennedy Craig, 6-0, 6-0.
Senior Shannon Newnes (Romford, London) and Knezevich posted wins in Nos. 5 and 6 singles action for the Zips. Newnes topped Cantrell, 6-3, 6-4 and Knezevich took a 6-2, 6-2 decision against Aspen Jarrett.
"We weren't playing badly, but we definitely picked up our intensity at that point and things began to really come together for us. We are now fully focused on finishing the MAC season strong and our attention is now on Buffalo," said Padgett.
The Zips will return to MAC play on Friday, March 31, for a 1 p.m. match at Buffalo.
AKRON 7, KENNESAW ST. 0
Betty Siegel Courts
March 28, 2017
Doubles:
1. Ariadna Blinova/Sophia Geier (UA) def. Laura Hopton/Cristina Perez-Martin, 7-6 (5)
2. Alexandra Mercado/Elle Baker (KSU) def. Shannon Newnes/Rita Pedroso, 6-2
3. Carli Knezevich/Luisa Echeverry (UA) def. Jessica Cantrell/Jada Tijani, 7-6 (4)
Singles:
1. Sophia Geier (UA) def. Alexandra Mercado, 6-3, 6-1
2. Ariadna Blinova (UA) def. Cristina Perez-Martin, 6-2, 6-2
3. Rita Pedroso (UA) def. Laura Hopton, 6-4, 6-0
4. Luisa Echeverry (UA) def. Kennedy Craig, 6-0, 6-0
5. Shannon Newnes (UA) def. Jessica Cantrell, 6-3, 6-4
6. Carli Knezevich (UA) def. Aspen Jarrett, 6-2, 6-2
Order of Finish:
Doubles— 2, 1, 3
Singles— 4, 1, 2, 3, 6, 5
Team Records:
Akron (18-2, 2-0 MAC)
Kennesaw St. (5-9, 1-1 ASUN)
