Miami Ohio University Athletics
Miami Wins Fourth Straight With 4-3 Decision Over WMU
4/20/2018 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Miami University women's tennis team has been playing strong tennis over the past few weeks of Mid-American Conference play, and Friday was no exception as the RedHawks took down Western Michigan on the road by a score of 4-3. With only one match now left to play in the regular season, the RedHawks improve to 10-8 overall and 6-1 in the MAC.
As with each other match this season, the day started with the Red & White claiming the doubles point. Senior duo Nelli Ponomareva and Anastasiia Vasiukhina rolled at first doubles, 6-1, and Emily Struble and Melati Devi brought home a 6-3 on the third court. Freshmen Priyana Kalita and Milana Lysova were leading 4-3 before their match was abandoned.
Miami wasted no time in pushing this advantage to singles, starting with Ponomareva at first singles. The Krasnodar, Russia native put on a dominant performance, as she has many times this season, in winning 6-0, 6-1. Freshman Makenzie Myers did much the same on the sixth court, winning 6-1, 6-2. Following a Western win at second singles that made the score 3-1, Kalia shut the door on the match by knocking off the Broncos' Jack 6-2, 6-4. Despite the match being decided, Western Michigan would pull two back with wins at third and fifth singles to make the final score 4-3, Miami.
The match's full results can be found below.
The RedHawks will take the courts for the last time in the regular season Sunday when they visit the Toledo Rockets for a crucial showdown, with the winner securing the two seed in the MAC Tournament next weekend.
Doubles:
1. Ponomareva/Vasiukhina (Miami) def. Eristavi/Slavova (WMU) 6-1
2. Lysova/Kalita (Miami) vs. Azcui/Jack (WMU) 4-3 Unfinished
3. Struble/Devi (Miami) def. Lyubomirova/Briend (WMU) 6-3
Order of finish: 1,3
Singles:
1. Nelli Ponomareva (Miami) def. Barbare Eristavi (WMU) 6-0, 6-1
2. Melina Lyubomirova (WMU) def. Milana Lysova (Miami) 6-4, 6-2
3. Denise Azcui (WMU) def. Emily Struble (Miami) 6-7, 7-6, 1-0 (11-9)
4. Priyana Kalita (Miami) def. Jeryn Jack (WMU) 6-2, 6-4
5. Gabriela Slavova (WMU) def. Lena Babunski (Miami) 6-4, 6-3
6. Makenzie Myers (Miami) def. Valentina S. Briend (WMU) 6-1, 6-2
Order of finish: 1, 6, 2, 4, 5, 3
Players Mentioned
