Box Score

DEKALB, Ill. -- Miami University's women's tennis team brought itself to within one victory of a conference title with a 7-0 win over Northern Illinois University Friday afternoon at the NIU Tennis Courts.

The RedHawks (11-9, 6-1 MAC) can clinch at least a share of the Mid-American Conference regular season title and a first-round bye with a victory Sunday afternoon at Western Michigan. The victor of Sunday's match will take the outright championship if Ball State falls Saturday against Toledo.

Miami quickly earned the doubles point with victories at the top two positions. Sophomore Anastasiia Vasiukhina returned from injury to post a 6-4 first-flight win with fellow sophomore Nelli Ponomareva. The other win came from junior Andreea Badileanu and freshman Anzhelika Shapovalova, 6-2, at No. 2 position.

In singles, sophomore Hannah Shteyn won her second-consecutive first-flight victory, 6-3, 6-3. Ponomareva extended her winning streak to eight with a 6-1, 6-1 result. Shapovalova and Badileanu had little trouble in straight-sets triumphs. Finally, freshman Emily Struble improved to 27-8 with a 6-0, 6-3 win at No. 5 position.

Check MiamiRedHawks.com for results and a full recap of Sunday's deciding match at WMU.

DOUBLES
1. Nelli Ponomareva / Anastasiia Vasiukhina (MIAMI) def. Cristina Alvarez / Evelyn Youel (NIU), 6-4
2. Andreea Badileanu / Anzhelika Shapovalova (MIAMI) def. Meghan Montgomerie / Abigail Dekkinga (NIU), 6-2
3. Ana Rajkovic / Hannah Shteyn (MIAMI) wins by forfeit

SINGLES
1. Hannah Shteyn (MIAMI) def. Cristina Alvarez (NIU), 6-3, 6-3
2. Nelli Ponomareva (MIAMI) def. Abigail Dekkinga (NIU), 6-1, 6-1
3. Anzhelika Shapovalova (MIAMI) def. Michelle Erasmus (NIU), 6-1, 6-2
4. Andreea Badileanu (MIAMI) def. Evelyn Youel (NIU), 6-1, 6-0
5. Emily Struble (MIAMI) def. Meghan Montgomerie (NIU), 6-0, 6-3
6. Ana Rajkovic (MIAMI) wins by forfeit