Box Score

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. ââ'¬" Miami University's women's tennis team came up just short Saturday afternoon, but produced a resounding regular season opener in its 4-3 loss to the 51st-ranked Indiana Hoosiers at the IU Tennis Center.

The RedHawks (0-1) were impressive with first-flight victories in both doubles and singles, nearly earning their first triumph in 34 all-time meetings with the Hoosiers (1-0). Saturday's effort was the closest result for Miami against Indiana since a 4-3 defeat in 2010.

The highlight of the day was the terrific dual-match debut of freshman Anzhelika Shapovalova, as she dropped Indiana's top player, Paula Gutierrez, in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4. Gutierrez had won four straight matches entering Saturday's action.

In the doubles competition, Miami dropped the first two matches, giving Indiana the opening point. The RedHawks grabbed the final match when sophomores Nelli Ponomareva and Anastasiia Vasiukhina beat Madison Appel and Sarah McLean in a 6-4 first-flight contest.

Ponomareva evened up the score with a quick 6-1, 6-2 victory over Kim Schmider in fourth-flight. Following an IU win, Shapovalova earned her first-flight upset, tying the match. The Hoosiers eventually took two matches to clinch victory, although junior Andreea Badileanu fought hard in a 7-6, 7-5 second-flight decision. Even with Indiana's result in hand, freshman Emily Struble completed Miami's successful day with a 6-3, 6-7, 6-4 win against Danielle Wolf in fifth flight.

The RedHawks will now prepare for another road match on Friday, Jan. 29 against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels at 9 a.m. in Richmond, Ky. Miami is 12-4 all-time against EKU, including a 6-1 victory last season in Hamilton, Ohio.

Check MiamiRedHawks.com for articles throughout the week and a recap of Friday's match.

DOUBLES
1. Nelli Ponomareva / Anastasiia Vasiukhina (MU) def. Madison Appel / Sarah McLean (IU), 6-4
2. Kim Schmider / Natalie Whalen (IU) def. Anzhelika Shapovalova / Hannah Shteyn (MU), 6-1
3. Paula Gutierrez / Danielle Wolf (IU) def. Andreea Badileanu / Ana Rajkovic (MU), 6-3

Order of finish: 2, 3, 1

SINGLES
1. Anzhelika Shapovalova (MU) def. Paula Gutierrez (IU), 6-3, 6-4
2. Madison Appel (IU) def. Andreea Badileanu (MU), 7-6, 7-5
3. Sarah McLean (IU) def. Hannah Shteyn (MU), 6-4, 6-4
4. Nelli Ponomareva (MU) def. Kim Schmider (IU), 6-1, 6-2
5. Emily Struble (MU) def. Danielle Wolf (IU), 6-3, 6-7, 6-4
6. Stephanie smith (IU) def. Anastasiia Vasiukhina (MU), 6-3, 6-3

Order of finish: 4, 6, 1, 2, 3, 5