April 7, 2012

Complete Results

OXFORD, Ohio -- Miami faced one of its toughest challenges of the season on Saturday head on, rallying for the doubles point enroute to a 5-2 victory over Western Michigan Saturday afternoon at the Hepburn Courts.

The RedHawks (11-9, 6-0) have now won 31 straight regular-season matches in league play, dating back to a 6-1 loss the the Broncos back on April 12, 2008.

Western Michigan (13-10, 2-3) was in early control of the doubles portion, winning 8-5 at No. 2 and leading 5-2 in the No. 3 match. But Alix Thurman and Christiana Raymond didn't quit, winning the next two games to close to 5-4. After each team held to make the score 6-5, Miami took its first lead by winning two straight. The Broncos held for 7-7, before the RedHawks won the final two games to even the match.

The No. 1 teams -- Miami's Stephanie Danesis and Christine Guerrazzi vs. Western Michigan's Maria Nivia and Jill Pastunink -- traded blows back and forth, with neither team pulling away. The first four games were service breaks, but the next eight games went on serve to make the score 6-6. WMU broke for a 7-6 lead, but Miami answered back. Danesis held serve before Miami registered its fourth break for the 9-7 win.

Miami's winning teams were both paired together for the first time this year and both won on breaks.

Singles play began with Riekie Honiball cruising to a 6-4, 6-0 win at No. 2, but the Broncos rallied by winning the No. 5 match, 6-2, 6-1. Danesis came back from early deficit to win at No. 1, 6-4, 6-3 before Western Michigan posted a 6-2, 6-2 victory at No. 4.

Meanwhile, the matches at Nos. 3 and 6 were tight. Nimisha Mohan broke serve early in her first set and eventually gained a 7-5 decision in the first set. Guerrazzi led 4-3 but was broken and trailed 5-4. She faced set point at 0-40, but rallied to win not only that game, but the next two for a 7-5 victory. The run continued through the first five games before WMU held serve. Guerrrazzi picked back up, finishing the match and clinching the team win with an ace.

Mohan went on to win her second set, 6-3, coming back from a 3-2 deficit with four straight wins.

Miami wraps up its home schedule and goes for a share of its fourth straight MAC regular-season title Friday against Northern Illinois.

Tennis Match Results
Western Michigan vs Miami
Apr 07, 2012 at Oxford, Ohio
(Hepburn Courts)

Miami 5, Western Michigan 2

Singles competition
1. Stephanie Danesis (MIAMI) def. Nini Sujashvili (WMU) 6-4, 6-3
2. Riekie Honiball (MIAMI) def. Maria Nivia (WMU) 6-4, 6-0
3. Nimisha Mohan (MIAMI) def. Maggie Remynse (WMU) 7-5, 6-3
4. Kathleen Hawkins (WMU) def. Christiana Raymond (MIAMI) 6-2, 6-2
5. Jill Pastunink (WMU) def. Alix Thurman (MIAMI) 6-2, 6-1
6. Christine Guerrazzi (MIAMI) def. Caroline Aleck (WMU) 7-5, 6-1

Doubles competition
1. Stephanie Danesis/Christine Guerrazzi (MIAMI) def. Maria Nivia/Jill Pastunink (WMU) 9-7
2. April Kerr/Nini Sujashvili (WMU) def. Riekie Honiball/Nimisha Mohan (MIAMI) 8-5
3. Alix Thurman/Christiana Raymond (MIAMI) def. Kathleen Hawkins/Caroline Aleck (WMU) 9-7

Match Notes:
Western Michigan 13-10, 2-3
Miami 11-9, 6-0
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (2,5,1,4,6,3)
Official: Steve Peterson T-3:40 A-45