Miami University
Marshall
RedHawks Upset No. 40 Marshall, 6-1
3/4/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
March 4, 2011
HAMILTON, Ohio - The Miami University women's tennis team squeezed out the doubles point and never looked back, winning five of six singles matches en route to a 6-1 upset victory over No. 40 Marshall Friday afternoon inside the Riverside Racquet Club. The win was the RedHawks' (8-4) first over a top-40 team in school history while snapping the Thundering Herd's (11-3) four-match win streak.
Miami pulled out the doubles point as the No. 2 doubles team of juniors Jessica Parr and Riekie Honiball defeated Marshall's Karli Timko and Kristina Koprcina 9-7 to clinch the point. The Thundering Herd took No. 3 doubles 8-3 as the first doubles match to finish but the 80th-ranked No. 1 doubles tandem of junior Stephanie Danesis and senior Megan Martzolf evened the doubles score at 1-1 with an 8-5 victory, allowing Parr and Honiball to give the `Hawks the 2-1 edge in doubles play.
The RedHawks quickly secured the victory in singles action, winning the first three matches to reach the necessary four points. Senior Anastasia Dracheva disposed of Catherine Kellner at No. 1 singles in straight sets 6-2, 6-3 to improve 14-7 on the year while Martzolf won her match at No. 3 singles soon after by the same score. At No. 2 singles, Danesis proved to be the decisive fourth point for the `Hawks as she downed Dominika Zaprazna, 7-6, 6-3 in a tightly contested match that included an 8-6 tiebreaker in the opening set.
"We competed very well today and carried over the momentum we established from last weekend. We played aggressive in doubles and executed in the big moments. In singles, it was just a fight on all six courts," head coach Anca Dumitrescu said. "I have to give Marshall credit because they stood in and kept pushing us. We just played very tough, moved well and played aggressive on the big points. When this team is willing to dig deep and compete at this level, we can play against anybody."
Miami also earned victories at No. 5 and No. 6 singles, both in three sets. Senior Cara Wald recorded a come-from-behind win at No. 6 as she dropped the first set 6-3 but blanked Timko in the second set 6-0 and won 10-8 in the pro set third set since the match had already been decided. Freshman Nimisha Mohan also was victorious for the RedHawks with a 6-3, 4-6, 1-0 (10-5 in the pro set) win.
Marshall picked up its lone point at No. 4 singles as Maria Voscekova defeated Honiball 6-3, 7-6 (9-7).
The RedHawks now head south to the Sunshine State for matches at Central Florida on March 7 at 2 p.m. before facing Jacksonville March 9 at 9 a.m. to wrap up non-conference play.
--MURedHawks.com--
Players Mentioned
