Akron Tennis Concludes Season with 5-2 Loss to Ball State

Sunday, April 22

Akron, Ohio

1 PM

University of Akron

Ball State

Photo by: Jeff Harwell

Akron Tennis Concludes Season with 5-2 Loss to Ball State

April 22 | Women's Tennis

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AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron women's tennis team concluded the 2018 season with a 5-2 loss to Ball State in Mid-American Conference action on Sunday afternoon at the UA outdoor courts.

"It's never easy to see your season end, but it's especially difficult when you see a season like this one end," said Akron head coach Brandon Padgett. "This team has worked exceptionally hard all year long and overcame some tough obstacles that I put on them, by redshirting our top player from last year, and removing another top player from the team before the fall season began. The odds were stacked against them, but each and every one of them showed phenomenal work ethic, focus, and determination. The amount of development that each player showed from the fall through the end of the spring season was truly remarkable. As coaches, all we ask is that you work hard, listen, and give us everything you have. This group, almost always did that for us. Our freshmen grew exponentially throughout the season, and their level of play was outstanding this spring."

The two Zips' seniors– team captain Carli Knezevich (Austin, Texas) and Waverly Wituski (Springboro, Ohio)– were honored prior to their final home match.

"For our seniors, my heart breaks, because they gave us their all and did a wonderful job leading this team," Padgett continued. "This has been, without a doubt, the closest any team of mine has ever been, and they were truly a joy to coach and be around. I am disappointed for the seniors and the team, but I am in no way disappointed in this team. It has been a wonderful season, and I love the fact that I was able to work with this group of amazing young women each day."

Ball State (11-9 overall, 3-4 MAC) claimed the doubles point over the Zips (14-12 overall, 3-5 MAC) with wins at the No. 1 and No. 3 spots.

In singles action, Akron earned two wins. At No. 1 singles, freshman Miruna Vasilescu (Ulm, Germany) concluded her freshman campaign at 17-5 overall with a defeat of Audrey Berger, 6-4, 6-4.

At No. 5 singles, junior Luisa Echeverry (Cali, Colombia) beat out Victoria Sec in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, to finish the season at 14-10 in singles action.

Akron finished fifth in MAC play, tied with Eastern Michigan and Ball State. Only the top six teams advance to next weekend's MAC Championship. By virtue of the tie-breaker of head-to-head competition, EMU (2-0) earned the fifth seed and BSU (1-1) the sixth seed, concluding the Zips' (0-2) season.

BALL STATE 5, AKRON 2
UA Outdoor Courts
April 22, 2018

Doubles:
1. Rebecca Herrington/Audrey Berger (BSU) def. Rita Pedroso/Anna Uljanov (Akron), 6-1

2. Carli Knezevich/Miruna Vasilescu (Akron) vs. Victoria Sec/Peyton Gollhofer (BSU), DNF

3. Sarah Swiderski/Isabelle Dohanics (BSU) def. Luisa Echeverry/Waverly Wituski (Akron), 6-3

Singles:
1. Miruna Vasilescu (Akron) def. Audrey Berger (BSU), 6-4, 6-4

2. Peyton Gollhofer (BSU) def. Anna Uljanov (Akron), 6-2, 6-2

3. Sarah Swiderski (BSU) def. Rita Pedroso (Akron), 6-1, 6-3

4. Isabelle Dohanics (BSU) def. Carli Knezevich (Akron), 6-3, 7-6 (4)

5. Luisa Echeverry (Akron) def. Victoria Sec (BSU), 6-2, 6-2

6. Rebecca Herrington (BSU) def. Madison Wolfe (Akron), 6-2, 5-7, 1-0 (5)

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

Team Records:
Ball State (11-9 overall, 3-4 MAC)
Akron (14-12 overall, 3-5 MAC)