The University of Akron Athletics
Nationally-Ranked Tennis Team Cruises Past Ball State
April 16 | Women's Tennis
AKRON, Ohio - Despite a venue change due to inclement weather after play had begun, the 72nd-ranked University of Akron tennis squad cruised to a 6-1 decision over Ball State on Friday, pushing the Zips to 5-0 in the Mid-American Conference and giving UA a school record for conference wins in a season.
Akron responded from its lone loss of 2010 last Saturday, at then 26th-ranked DePaul, to improve to 16-1 overall this season. The Zips defeated Ball State (7-10, 1-4 MAC) for the second-straight year, but improved to just 4-17 all-time against the Cardinals.
The match started outdoors with sunny skies at Springside
Racquet Club on the northwest side of town.
An injury to Prang Pantusart forced
Akron head coach Jeffrey Wyshner to shuffle
the lineup. Partners from 2009, Zara Harutyunyan and Anya
Baronayte looked as if they had been together all of 2010,
defeating Dena Boulieris and Georgina Thomson 8-1, before a
downpour of rain forced play indoors to LaTuchie Tennis Center on
the northeast side of town.
The Zips nearly clinched the doubles point outdoors before the rain set in as Jeremie Benjamin and Carolina Castro Cota only needed to win two games indoors for an 8-4 decision over Lauren Pickrel and Sarah Hebble. The change of venue benefited Akron's No. 1 doubles tandem of Angelika Jogasuria and Angelina Jogasuria. The twins from Indonesia were trailing Katherine Rist and Kylee Johnson 5-2 outside, but rallied indoors to win 8-6 and give UA the doubles sweep.
In singles play, Baronayte and Harutyunyan continued their dominance. Baronayte gave Akron its first singles point with a quick 6-1, 6-0 decision over Hebble. Harutyunyan then secured the team win several minutes later with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Hayley Hall. In between, Angelina Jogasuria matched Baronayte's score of 1 and 0 to defeat Boulieris.
The Zips play host to Miami (Ohio) on Saturday in a pivotal match in the MAC race, as UA and MU (12-6, 5-0) share the first-place spot in the league standings. The contest is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET at Springside Racquet Club (outdoors). However, with inclement weather in the forecast, please check GoZips.com for any changes to start time and/or location.
RESULTS
No. 72 Akron 6, Ball State 1
Doubles:
1. Angelika Jogasuria/Angelina Jogasuria (AKRON)
def. Katherine Rist/Kylee Johnson (BSU) 8-6
2. Zara Harutyunyan/Anya
Baronayte (AKRON) def. Dena Boulieris/Georgina Thomson (BSU)
8-1
3. Jeremie Benjamin/Carolina Castro Cota (AKRON)
def. Lauren Pickrel/Sarah Hebble (BSU) 8-4
Singles:
1. (104) Zara Harutyunyan (AKRON)
def. Hayley Hall (BSU) 6-1, 6-1
2. Angelina
Jogasuria (AKRON) def. Dena Boulieris (BSU) 6-1, 6-0
3. Angelika
Jogasuria (AKRON) def. Kylee Johnson (BSU) 6-3, 6-2
4. Anya Baronayte (AKRON) def.
Sarah Hebble (BSU) 6-1, 6-0
5. Katherine Rist (BSU) def. Jeremie Benjamin (AKRON)
7-5, 6-3
6. Carolina Castro Cota (AKRON)
def. Lauren Pickrel (BSU) 6-2, 6-3
Order of finish:
Doubles - 2, 3, 1
Singles - 4, 2, 1, 3, 5, 6
Players Mentioned
