The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Illinois-Chicago
Zips Sweep UIC, Valparaiso to Extend Winning Streak to 12
March 04 | Women's Tennis
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VALPARAISO, Ind.- The Akron women's tennis team extended its winning streak to 12 with a pair of 7-0 victories on Saturday.
The Zips started the day with a 7-0 sweep of Illinois-Chicago at Match Point Tennis in Griffith, Ind. and closed things out by taking a 7-0 decision at Valparaiso on The Courts of Northwest Indiana.
Akron has won 12 straight matches and sits at 13-2 on the year. This marks the longest winning streak since the Zips began the 2010 season at 15-0.
The Flames drop to 5-4 on the season and Valparaiso falls to 0-7.
"I'm really happy with how we worked as a team today. Every player picked up a win today and this is an excellent confidence builder for everyone. We continue to pick up wins in a variety of ways and different players continue to step up and close out matches, which is extremely exciting to see as a coach," said head coach Brandon Padgett.
In the match against UIC, the Zips clinched the doubles point courtesy of wins from senior Karolina Maksimova (Mogilev, Belarus)/junior Carli Knezevich (Austin, Texas) and senior Shannon Newnes (Romford, London)/freshman Rita Pedroso (Porto, Portugal). Maksimova/Knezevich picked up a 6-2 win over UIC's Rachel Le Comber/Melika LeBlanc, while Newnes/Pedroso took a 6-1 decision against Georgie Sanders/Stefana Vasic.
At the No. 1 singles spot, junior Sophia Geier (Burgebrach, Germany) recorded her 12th straight win with a 6-0, 6-1 victory over Sanders.
Junior Ariadna Blinova (Riga, Latvia) captured a three-set victory (6-2, 4-6, 6-4) against LeBlanc in the second singles match for the Zips.
Pedroso continued her hot streak by virtue of taking a 6-3, 6-4 decision against Bianca Zuzu in No. 3 singles action.
Maksimova and Newnes also registered wins in singles action for Akron. Maksimova notched a 4-6, 6-1, 1-0 (4) victory over Le Comber and Newnes got the best of Miranda Rodriguez, 6-3, 6-3 at the Nos. 4 and 5 singles spots respectively.
In No. 6 singles action, sophomore Luisa Echeverry (Cali, Colombia) took a straight-set (6-2, 6-2) win over Stefana Vasic.
Akron won all three doubles matches against Valparaiso to capture the doubles point as Knezevich/Maksimova registered a 7-5 win against Kathleen Hebble/Paige Heuer, Blinova/Geier remained unbeaten in doubles action with a 6-0 sweep and Newnes/Pedroso posted a 6-4 victory.
Blinova topped Hebble, 6-2, 6-0 in No. 1 singles action.
At the No. 2 singles spot, Pedroso won her 10th straight match by taking a 6-1, 6-4 decision against Heuer.
Echeverry recorded her second singles victory of the day with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over the Crusaders' Meg Modesto.
Knezevich and sophomore Carla Flores (Coahuila, Mexico) kept things rolling with wins in Nos. 4 and 5 singles action for the Zips. Knezevich picked up a 6-2, 6-4 win against Jordan Kopfer and Flores rallied to take a 1-6, 7-6 (4), 1-0 (4) three-set thriller over Dao Sysouvanh.
Junior Waverly Wituski (Springboro, Ohio) captured a 6-4, 7-6 (4) victory for Akron in the sixth singles match.
The Zips will return home to host Milwaukee on Saturday, March 18 at 10 a.m.
AKRON 7, ILLINOIS-CHICAGO 0
Match Point Tennis
March 4, 2017
Doubles:
1. Karolina Maksimova/Carli Knezevich (UA) def. Rachel Le Comber/Melika LeBlanc, 6-2
2. Ariadna Blinova/Sophia Geier (UA) vs. Miranda Rodriguez/Bianca Zuzu (UIC), 4-3 DNF (UA led)
3. Shannon Newnes/Rita Pedroso (UA) def. Georgie Sanders/Stefana Vasic, 6-1
Singles:
1. Sophia Geier (UA) def. Georgie Sanders, 6-0, 6-1
2. Ariadna Blinova (UA) def. Melika LeBlanc, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4
3. Rita Pedroso (UA) def. Bianca Zuzu, 6-3, 6-4
4. Karolina Maksimova (UA) def. Rachel Le Comber, 4-6, 6-1, 1-0 (4)
5. Shannon Newnes (UA) def. Miranda Rodriguez, 6-3, 6-3
6. Luisa Echeverry (UA) def. Stefana Vasic, 6-2, 6-2
Order of Finish:
Doubles— 3, 1
Singles— 1, 6, 5, 3, 4, 2
AKRON 7, VALPARAISO 0
The Courts of Northwest Indiana
March 4, 2017
Doubles:
1. Carli Knezevich/Karalina Maksimava (UA) def. Kathleen Hebble/Paige Heuer, 7-5
2. Ariadna Blinova/Sophia Geier (UA) def. Dao Sysouvanh/Randi Wind, 6-0
3. Shannon Newnes/Rita Pedroso (UA) def. Halle Roach/Jordan Kopfer, 6-4
Exhibition: Luisa Echeverry/Waverly Wituski (UA) def. Meg Modesto/Erin Staal, 6-2
Singles:
1. Ariadna Blinova (UA) def. Kathleen Hebble, 6-2, 6-0
2. Rita Pedroso (UA) def. Paige Heuer, 6-1, 6-4
3. Luisa Echeverry (UA) def. Meg Modesto, 6-3, 6-3
4. Carli Knezevich (UA) def. Jordan Kopfer, 6-2, 6-4
5. Carla Flores (UA) def. Dao Sysouvanh, 1-6, 7-6 (4), 1-0 (4)
6. Waverly Wituski (UA) def. Randi Wind, 6-4, 7-6 (4)
Order of Finish:
Doubles— 2, 3, 1
Singles— 1, 4, 2, 3, 6, 5
Team Records:
Akron (13-2, 0-0 MAC)
Illinois-Chicago (5-4, 0-0 Horizon)
Valparaiso (0-7, 0-0 Horizon)
Players Mentioned
