Women’s Tennis Claims 4-3 MAC Win over WMU

Friday, April 6

Akron, Ohio

1 PM

University of Akron

Western Michigan

Photo by: Jeff Harwell

April 06 | Women's Tennis

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AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron women's tennis team claimed its second win in Mid-American Conference play on Friday afternoon with a thrilling 4-3 victory over Western Michigan at the LaTuchie Tennis Center, handing the Broncos (11-8 overall, 2-1 MAC) their first lost in MAC play.

"Great win today," said Akron head coach Brandon Padgett. "We definitely needed this from a team morale standpoint. Western Michigan came in undefeated in conference play. They are having a good season, and we stepped up. We started off in doubles strong. We played pretty well from top to bottom today. I am very pleased with how we performed."

The Zips (13-10 overall, 2-3 MAC) claimed the doubles point with wins at the No. 2 and 3 spots.

At No. 2, senior captain Carli Knezevich (Austin, Texas) and freshman Miruna Vasilescu (Ulm, Germany) defeated Denise Azcui and Jeryn Jack, 6-4.

At No. 3 doubles, junior Luisa Echeverry (Cali, Colombia) and senior Waverly Wituski (Springboro, Ohio) beat Melina Lyubomirova and Valentina Sanchez Briend, 6-4.

In singles action, the Zips earned victories at the No. 1, 4, and 6 spots.

At No. 1, Vasilescu earned her first MAC win at the top position with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Barbare Eristavi.

At No. 4, freshman Anna Uljanov (Schweinfurt, Germany) battled Jeryn Jack to a 2-6, 6-3, 6-1 win.

In the deciding match at No. 6, junior Carla Flores (Caohuila, Mexico) improved to 7-2 singles this spring with a 7-6 (1), 6-4 victory over Sanchez Briend.

Akron travels to Northern Illinois for its final MAC road match on Saturday, April 7, at 4 p.m. CT (5 p.m. ET).

AKRON 4, WESTERN MICHIGAN 3
LaTuchie Tennis Center
April 6, 2018

Doubles:
1. Barbare Eristavi/Gabriela Slavova (WMU) def. Rita Pedroso/Anna Uljanov (Akron), 6-0

2. Carli Knezevich/Miruna Vasilescu (Akron) def. Denise Azcui/Jeryn Jack (WMU), 6-4

3. Luisa Echeverry/Waverly Wituski (Akron) def. Melina Lyubomirova/Valentina Sanchez Briend (WMU), 6-4

Singles:
1. Miruna Vasilescu (Akron) def. Barbare Eristavi (WMU), 6-4, 6-2

2. Melina Lyubomirova (WMU) def. Rita Pedroso (Akron), 6-3, 6-4

3. Denise Azcui (WMU) def. Carli Knezevich (Akron), 6-4, 6-2

4. Anna Uljanov (Akron) def. Jeryn Jack (WMU), 2-6, 6-3, 6-1

5. Gabriela Slavova (WMU) def. Luisa Echeverry (Akron), 3-6, 6-4, 7-5

6. Carla Flores (Akron) def. Valentina Sanchez Briend (WMU), 7-6 (1), 6-4

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

Team Records:
Western Michigan (11-8, 2-1 MAC)
Akron (13-10 overall, 2-3 MAC)