The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Buffalo
Zips Top Buffalo to Win 18th Straight Match, 5-2
March 31 | Women's Tennis
Follow Akron Tennis on Twitter and Facebook
WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. – The Akron women's tennis team won its 18th straight match with a 5-2 win over Buffalo on Friday afternoon at Miller Tennis Center in Williamsville, N.Y.
The Zips improve to 19-2 (3-0 MAC) with the win, while Buffalo falls to 6-6 (0-1 MAC). The Bulls were picked to win the MAC in the preseason poll.
Akron won five of the six singles matches on the afternoon to take the match after Buffalo won the doubles point.
"Today was a great day for our team. We lost a tough doubles point to a team that plays exceptional doubles, but we managed to show amazing grit and determination in singles. Playing the preseason MAC favorites on the road, down 1-0 after doubles and finding a way to win the match is a testament to the hard work and fight that this team has," said head coach Brandon Padgett.
Junior Sophia Geier (Burgebrach, Germany) notched a straight-set victory (6-2, 6-2) over Buffalo's Tanja Stojanovska at the No. 1 singles spot. Geier now sits at 18-1 in singles play on the year.
In No. 2 singles action, junior Ariadna Blinova (Riga, Latvia) rallied to take a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 decision against the Bulls' Chantal Martinez Blanco.
Senior Shannon Newnes (Romford, London) remained unbeaten in singles action for the Zips this spring with a 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 win over Mercedes Losada Rubio at the No. 4 singles spot.
Sophomore Luisa Echeverry (Cali, Colombia) took a 6-2, 6-4 decision against UB's Anna Savchenko at the fifth singles spot.
At the No. 6 singles spot, junior Carli Knezevich (Austin, Texas) registered a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Buffalo's Sanjana Sudhir.
"I'm extremely proud of the fortitude that this group of young women showed today! Now we must turn our focus to Miami," added Padgett.
Akron continues MAC play on Sunday, April 2 when Miami (Ohio) comes to town for a 1 p.m. tilt at either LaTuchie Tennis Center or the Outdoor Tennis Courts on the UA campus depending on weather.
AKRON 5, BUFFALO 2
Miller Tennis Center
March 31, 2017
Doubles:
1. Tanja Stojanovska/Margarita Kotok (UB) def. Carli Knezevich/Karolina Maksimova, 6-2
2. Chantal Martinez Blanco/Anna Savchenko (UB) def. Ariadna Blinova/Sophia Geier, 6-4
3. Shannon Newnes/Rita Pedroso (UA) vs. Laura Holterbosch/Mercedes Losada Rubio, 5-5 DNF
Singles:
1. Sophia Geier (UA) def. Tanja Stojanovska, 6-2, 6-2
2. Ariadna Blinova (UA) def. Chantal Martinez Blanco, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
3. Emel Abibula (UB) def. Rita Pedroso, 6-1, 6-2
4. Shannon Newnes (UA) def. Mercedes Losada Rubio, 1-6, 6-4, 6-3
5. Luisa Echeverry (UA) def. Anna Savchenko, 6-2, 6-4
6. Carli Knezevich (UA) def. Sanjana Sudhir, 6-2, 6-1
Order of Finish:
Doubles— 1, 2
Singles— 3, 1, 5, 6, 4, 2
Team Records:
Akron (19-2, 3-0 MAC)
Buffalo (6-6, 0-1 MAC)
Players Mentioned
