Women's Tennis Splits Home Matches

Friday, February 9

Akron, Ohio

3 PM

University of Akron

Tennessee

Photo by: Jeff Harwell

February 09 | Women's Tennis

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AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron women's tennis team split a pair of non-conference home matches on Friday at the LaTuchie Tennis Center.

The Zips fell to SEC powerhouse Tennessee (8-0 overall), ranked among the nation's Top 30, in the afternoon. UA (5-4 oversll) rebounded with a 7-0 shut out of local rival Walsh (2-3 overall) in evening action.

The Lady Vols captured the doubles point with wins at the No. 2 and 3 positions. In singles action, UT claimed wins at No. 1, 5, and 6, sealing the win. All play was then halted.

"Today was a great day of tennis for us," said Akron head coach Brandon Padgett. "Walsh has a very solid team, and we had to play well to pick up the win. Against Tennessee, we played high-quality tennis, and put ourselves in position to win on multiple courts. Unfortunately, we weren't able to finish all of the matches. I really like the direction we are heading in, collectively. If we keep up this level of progress, we will be ready when MAC play begins."

In the evening, Akron captured the doubles point with wins at all three positions. At No. 1 doubles, senior captain Carli Knezevich (Austin, Texas) and freshman Miruna Vasilescu (Ulm, Germany) defeated Mercedes Fernandez and Clara Drasch, 6-2.

At No. 2 doubles, sophomore Rita Pedroso (Porto, Portugal) and freshman Anna Uljanov (Schweinfurt, Germany) swept Katarina Razum and Marie Kacalova, 6-0.

At No. 3 doubles, junior Luisa Echeverry (Cali, Colombia) and senior Waverly Wituski (Springboro, Ohio) cruised to a 6-0 win over Sofia Khairutdinova and Parvanee Karimpour.

In singles action, Pedroso beat out Fernandez, 6-3, 6-2, at No. 1.

At. No. 2, Knezevich defeated Kacalova, 6-1, 6-0, while Uljanov battled Drasch for a 7-6 (5), 6-2 victory at No. 3.

At No. 4, Echeverry beat Razum in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2.

At No. 5, Wituski defeated Khairutdinova, 6-1, 6-1, and junior Carla Flores (Coahuila, Mexico) shut out Victoria Ambrosio, 6-0, 6-0, for her third consecutive singles win.

Akron continues its home stand. The Zips host West Virginia on Friday, Feb. 16, at 1 p.m. and East Tennessee State on Sunday, Feb. 18, at 10 a.m. WVU and ETSU play each other on Saturday, Feb. 17, at 10 a.m. All matches will be held at the LaTuchie Tennis Center in Stow.

TENNESSEE 4, AKRON 0
LaTuchie Tennis Center
Feb. 9, 2018

Doubles:
1. Carli Knezevich/Miruna Vasilescu (Akron) vs. Sadie Hammond/Gabby Schuck (UT), DNF [3-4 UT]

2. Kaitlin Staines/Ariadna Riley (UT) def. Rita Pedroso/Anna Uljanov (Akron), 6-2

3. Elizabeth Profit/Tenika McGiffin (UT) def. Luisa Echeverry/Waverly Wituski (Akron), 6-2

Singles:
1. Ariadna Riley (UT) def. Rita Pedroso (Akron), 6-1, 6-0

2. Miruna Vasilescu (Akron) vs. Elizabeth Profit (UT), DNF [5-7 UT]

3. Carli Knezevich (Akron) vs. Gabby Schuck (UT), DNF [ 6-3, 0-3]

4. Anna Uljanov (Akron) vs. Johanna Silva (UT), DNF [4-6, 1-0]

5. Kaitlin Staines (UT) def. Luisa Echeverry (Akron), 6-2, 6-3

6. Chelsea Sawyer (UT) def. Waverly Wituski (Akron), 6-3, 6-1

Order of Finish:
Doubles– 2, 3
Singles– 1, 6, 5

Team Records:
Tennessee (8-0 overall, 0-0 SEC)
Akron (4-4 overall, 0-0 MAC)

* * *

AKRON 7, WALSH 0
LaTuchie Tennis Center
Feb. 9, 2018

Doubles:
1. Carli Knezevich/Miruna Vasilescu (Akron) def. Mercedes Fernandez/Clara Drasch (Walsh), 6-2

2. Rita Pedroso/Anna Uljanov (Akron) def. Katarina Razum/Marie Kacalova (Walsh), 6-0

3. Luisa Echeverry/Waverly Wituski (Akron) def. Sofia Khairutdinova/Parvanee Karimpour (Walsh), 6-0

Singles:
1. Rita Pedroso (Akron) def. Mercedes Fernandez (Walsh), 6-3, 6-2

2. Carli Knezevich (Akron) def. Marie Kacalova (Walsh), 6-1, 6-0

3. Anna Uljanov (Akron) def. Clara Drasch (Walsh), 7-6 (5), 6-2

4. Luisa Echeverry (Akron) def. Katarina Razum (Walsh), 6-2, 6-2

5. Waverly Wituski (Akron) def. Sofia Khairutdinova (Walsh), 6-1, 6-1

6. Carla Flores (Akron) def. Victoria Ambrosio (Walsh), 6-0, 6-0

Order of Finish:
Doubles– 2, 3, 1
Singles– 6, 2, 5, 4, 1, 3

Team Records:
Walsh (2-3 overall, 0-0 GMAC)
Akron (5-4 overall, 0-0 MAC)