March 26, 2017 HAMILTON, Ohio - Miami University's women's tennis team moved to 2-0 in the Mid-American Conference (6-8 overall) after it downed Western Michigan, 6-1, in a spectacular performance on Sunday afternoon at the Riverside Athletic Club.
The RedHawks took doubles with wins at No. 1 and No. 3. Junior Nelli Ponomareva and sophomore Anzhelika Shapovalova took down Tracy Kuhle and Melina Lyubomirova, (6-3). The tandem of sophomore Emily Struble and senior Andreea Badileanu beat out Barbare Eristavi and Katja Fevralev, (6-2) to clinch the doubles point.
The Red & White showed what they were made of in singles action with impressive showings at all flights. Claiming five of six singles flights for the second-straight outing. Shapovalova put the RedHawks back on top after she bested Olivia Myers in straight sets, (6-2, 6-3). Badileanu widened the gap to 3-1, handily taking down Fevralev (6-2, 6-2).
All eyes were on court one as Ponomareva battled it out with Lyubomirova in a heated match. Miami took the first set (6-4) after much back and forth and it was neck-and-neck throughout the second set as each player refused to give any ground. The two duked it out in a tiebreaker with Ponomareva ultimately coming out on top (7-6 (7-5)) to clinch the match for Miami.
Miami led the Broncos 4-1 as positions four and five entered their third sets. Vasiukhina brought her A-game to down Denise Azcui in a three-set match. The junior RedHawk fell in the first set, (2-6), but then rallied past her opponent to take the match in straight sets (6-4, 6-2), Miami now leading WMU, 5-1. Struble shutdown the Broncos with her win at No. 4 in another battle of a match. The Michigan-native took the first set, (6-4), but dropped the second (4-6). She powered through to down Kuhle (6-2) and earn the RedHawks their final point.
The Red & White return on Friday to take on Temple University in head-to-head action in Oxford, Ohio with the first serve going up at noon.
Singles Competition
- Nelli Ponomareva (MIAMI) def. Melina Lyubomirova (WMU) 6-4, 7-6 (7-5)
- A. Shapovalova (MIAMI) def. Olivia Myers (WMU) 6-2, 6-3
- Andreea Badileanu (MIAMI) def. Katja Fevralev (WMU) 6-2, 6-2
- Emily Struble (MIAMI) def. Tracy Kuhle (WMU) 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
- A. Vasiukhina (MIAMI) def. Denise Azcui (WMU) 2-6, 6-4, 6-2
- Barbare Eristavi (WMU) def. Hannah Shteyn (MIAMI) 6-1, 6-2
Doubles Competition
- Nelli Ponomareva/A. Shapovalova (MIAMI) def. Tracy Kuhle/Melina Lyubomirova (WMU) 6-3
- Denise Azcui/Olivia Myers (WMU) def. Hannah Shteyn/A. Vasiukhina (MIAMI) 6-2
- Emily Struble/Andreea Badileanu (MIAMI) def. Barbare Eristavi/Katja Fevralev (WMU) 6-2
Order of Finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (6,2,3,1,5,4)
