Geier Upsets Bartolome as Akron Women’s Tennis Falls at Pittsburgh, 4-3

Thursday, February 7

Pittsburgh, PA

8:30 PM

University of Akron

Pittsburgh

Photo by: Ron Elkman

Geier Upsets Bartolome as Akron Women’s Tennis Falls at Pittsburgh, 4-3

February 08 | Women's Tennis

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PITTSBURGH – The University of Akron women's tennis team suffered its first loss of the season with a 4-3 decision at Pittsburgh (3-3 overall, 0-1 ACC) late Thursday night at the Oxford Athletic Club.

"Outstanding effort tonight from everyone," ninth-year head coach Brandon Padgett said. "This team did not deserve to lose this match. Every player fought from beginning to end. We let some questionable officiating get into our heads, and we cannot allow that to happen. Playing on the road against an ACC team is difficult enough, so we have to be more mentally tough, and that's the only negative we can take from this match."

Pittsburgh took the doubles point with wins at the No. 1 and No. 3 spots. At No. 2, redshirt senior captain Sophia Geier (Burgebrach, Germany) and sophomore Anna Uljanov (Schweinfurt, Germany), this week's MAC Doubles Team of the Week, were ahead 5-4 when the doubles point was clinched.

In singles action, Akron (7-1 overall) claimed three wins.

At No. 1, Geier, this week's MAC Singles Player of the Week, upset No. 86 Claudia Bartolome, 6-2, 6-1, to tie the match at 1-1.

At No. 3, Uljanov defeated Camila Moreno, 7-5, 6-2.

At No. 5, senior Luisa Echeverry (Cali Colombia) beat Natsumi Okamoto in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2.

With the team score tied at 3-3, the match came down to the battle at the No. 2 spot which went three sets and finished after midnight. Tied 5-5 in the third set, sophomore Miruna Vasilescu (Ulm, Germany) dropped a 5-7, 7-6 (3), 6-7 (2) hard-fought battle to Luisa Varon.

"I'm so proud of everyone, those that won and those that lost, because we showed that we have the heart and ability to win every match we play, now we have to believe it a little more. Anna, Luisa, and Sophia continue to pay outstanding tennis for us. They are setting the tone for us in every match."

Akron travels to Duquesne on Friday, Feb. 15, for a 1 p.m. match.

PITTSBURGH 4, AKRON 3
Oxford Athletic Club
February 7, 2019

Doubles:
1. Gabriela Rezende/Claudia Bartolome (Pitt) def. Rita Pedroso/Miruna Vasilescu (Akron), 6-3

2. Sophia Geier/Anna Uljanov (Akron) vs. Natsumi Okamoto/Luisa Varon (Pitt), 5-4 DNF

3. Clara Lucas/Camila Moreno (Pitt) def. Luisa Echeverry/Enya Forgaci (Akron), 6-2

Singles:
1. Sophia Geier (Akron) def. #86 Claudia Bartolome (Pitt), 6-2, 6-1

2. Luisa Varon (Pitt) def. Miruna Vasilescu (Akron), 5-7, 7-6 (3), 6-7 (2)

3. Anna Uljanov (Akron) def. Camila Moreno (Pitt), 7-5, 6-2

4. Gabriela Rezende (Pitt) def. Rita Pedroso (Akron), 7-5, 7-5

5. Luisa Echeverry (Akron) def. Natsumi Okamoto (Pitt), 6-4, 6-2

6. Mariona Perez Noguera (Pitt) def. Enya Forgaci (Akron), 6-2, 5-7, 6-3

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

Team Records:
Pittsburgh (3-3 overall, 0-1 ACC)
Akron (7-1 overall, MAC 0-0)