The University of Akron Athletics
Saturday, April 27
Buffalo, NY
2 PM
University of Akron
vs
Semifinal: #2 Akron vs. #6 Buffalo
Photo by: John Ashley
Women’s Tennis Heads to MAC Championship
April 25 | Women's Tennis
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VIDEO PREVIEW
MAC CHAMPIONSHIP
LIVE STATS
AKRON, Ohio – The No. 2 seed University of Akron women's tennis team travels to Buffalo for the 2019 Mid-American Conference Championship on April 26-28.
The Zips (20-5 overall, 5-2 MAC) earned a quarterfinal round bye and will face the winner of the No. 3 seed Western Michigan (12-10 overall, 4-3 MAC)/No. 6 seed Buffalo (13-7 overall, 3-4 MAC) match in semifinal action on Saturday, April 27, at 2 p.m.
The championship match is slated for Sunday, April 28, at Noon.
Play will stop when a team wins four matches to advance.
All matches will be played at the University of Buffalo, last year's MAC champion. Weather will determine the venue. The primary outdoor venue will be Sweet Home High School. If play is moved indoors, matches will take place at the Miller Tennis Center. Live stats will be provided for every match.
The winner of the MAC Championship advances to the NCAA Tournament.
"(With the bye) Not having to play three days in a row will definitely be helpful this season from the standpoint that all the (regular-season) matches have been tight," said Akron head coach Brandon Padgett. "We expect the quarterfinal round to be tight, and the semifinals as well."
"We're excited to play either Western Michigan or Buffalo. Buffalo beat Western during the regular season. It honestly doesn't matter what seed you are in this tournament, it's going to be difficult for any team to make it to the finals."
2019 MAC WOMEN'S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS
University at Buffalo | Buffalo, N.Y.
April 26-28, 2019
Friday, April 26 | Quarterfinals:
Match 1: No. 4 seed Ball State vs. No. 5 seed Toledo, 10 a.m.
Match 2: No. 3 seed Western Michigan vs. No. 6 seed Buffalo, 2 p.m.
Saturday, April 27 | Semifinals:
Match 3: No. 1 seed Miami vs. Match #1 winner, 10 a.m.
Match 4: No. 2 seed Akron vs. Match #2 winner, 2 p.m.
Sunday, April 28 | Championship Final:
Match 5: Semifinal winners, Noon
SCOUTING WESTERN MICHIGAN
The No. 3 seed Broncos, under the direction of fourth-year head coach Ryan Tomlinson, stand 12-10 overall after finishing MAC play at 4-3. During the regular season, WMU claimed a 4-3 home win over Akron. In series action, Western Michigan holds a 26-8 series advantage over Akron, including a three-match win streak.
SCOUTING BUFFALO
The No. 6 seed and defending MAC champion Bulls, under the guidance of sixth-year head coach Kristen Maines, host the 2019 MAC Women's Tennis Championship. Buffalo stands 13-7 overall after finishing MAC play at 3-4. During MAC play, Akron took a 6-1 road victory at UB. In series action, the Zips hold a 16-11 edge.
SCOUTING MIAMI
The No. 1 seed RedHawks, under the guidance of second-year head coach Ricardo Rosas, the 2019 MAC Coach of the Year, stand 10-10 overall after capturing the MAC regular-season title with a 6-1 record. In the MAC opener, Akron captured a 4-3 home win over Miami. In series action, UM lead the Zips, 26-4.
ALL-MAC HONORS
Akron redshirt senior Sophia Geier (Burgebrach, Germany) was named the 2019 Mid-American Conference Women's Tennis Player of the Year. Geier and sophomore Miruna Vasilescu (Ulm, Germany) earned first-team All-MAC honors, while sophomore Anna Uljanov (Schweinfurt, Germany) was a second-team All-MAC selection.
All three Zips have been honored by the MAC before. Geier is a three-time All-MAC honoree as well as the 2017 MAC Player of the Year. As true freshmen last spring, Vasilescu and Uljanov earned second-team All-MAC honors in 2018, while Vasilescu was named the league's Newcomer of the Year.
ZIPS' MAC HISTORY
Akron returns to MAC Championship play after missing out in 2018. The Akron Zips have won the MAC Tournament championship twice in school history– in 2011 and 2012 under coach Brandon Padgett. The Zips have also advanced to NCAA play in 2011, 2012, and 2013.
Ironically, the Zips were the No. 2 seed during each championship run in 2011 and 2012.
DOWN TO THE WIRE
Five of Akron's seven matches in MAC play finished with a 4-3 score. UA's only sweep was a 7-0 victory over Northern Illinois. Seeded second, Akron finished regular-season play with the best overall record at 20-5.
HEAD COACH BRANDON PADGETT
In his ninth season at Akron, head coach Brandon Padgett has mentored 22 All-MAC honorees, 20 Academic All-MAC student-athletes, three Players of the Year, and two prestigious MAC Leann Grimes Davidge Sportsmanship award winners. His Zips have earned the ITA All-Academic Team Award every year. Additionally, UA tennis has scored a perfect 1000 APR score the last three years.
MEET THE ZIPS
Akron will be led by redshirt senior Sophia Geier (Burgebrach, Germany) at the No. 1 spot. The two-time MAC Player of the Year, she stands 27-4 in singles action, 19-1 in spring action, and finished a perfect 7-0 in MAC play, all at the No. 1 spot. Geier will finish her collegiate career ranked No. 2 in career singles wins (currently has 104) and combination singles/doubles wins (currently has 174) while her 70 doubles victories rank No. 11 on the career chart.
Sophomore Miruna Vasilescu (Ulm, Germany) stands 22-9 overall and 19-4 this spring, (6-1 in MAC play), playing at No. 1 and No. 2. She is a also perfect 4-0 at the No. 1 spot.
Sophomore Anna Uljanov (Schweinfurt, Germany) stands 21-10 overall and 17-5 this spring (6-1 in MAC play), at the No. 2-3 spots.
Senior Luisa Echeverry (Cali Colombia) is 12-11 in singles action this spring, playing the No. 3-4 spots.
Junior captain Rita Pedroso (Porto, Portugal) is 15-7 this spring at the No. 4-6 spots.
Freshman Claudia Cecilia Rosas Garcias (Gaudalajara, Mexico) stands 17-11 in singles action and 11-7 this spring, playing the No. 3-6 spots.
In doubles action, Pedroso and Vasilescu stand 22-8 overall and 17-6 this spring at the No. 1 position.
At No. 2 doubles, Geier and Uljanov are 15-6 overall and 12-6 this spring.
At No. 3 doubles, senior Carla Flores (Coahuila, Mexico) has teamed with Echeverry, Rosas, or freshman Enya Forgaci (Boca Raton, Fla.).
VIDEO PREVIEW
MAC CHAMPIONSHIP
LIVE STATS
AKRON, Ohio – The No. 2 seed University of Akron women's tennis team travels to Buffalo for the 2019 Mid-American Conference Championship on April 26-28.
The Zips (20-5 overall, 5-2 MAC) earned a quarterfinal round bye and will face the winner of the No. 3 seed Western Michigan (12-10 overall, 4-3 MAC)/No. 6 seed Buffalo (13-7 overall, 3-4 MAC) match in semifinal action on Saturday, April 27, at 2 p.m.
The championship match is slated for Sunday, April 28, at Noon.
Play will stop when a team wins four matches to advance.
All matches will be played at the University of Buffalo, last year's MAC champion. Weather will determine the venue. The primary outdoor venue will be Sweet Home High School. If play is moved indoors, matches will take place at the Miller Tennis Center. Live stats will be provided for every match.
The winner of the MAC Championship advances to the NCAA Tournament.
"(With the bye) Not having to play three days in a row will definitely be helpful this season from the standpoint that all the (regular-season) matches have been tight," said Akron head coach Brandon Padgett. "We expect the quarterfinal round to be tight, and the semifinals as well."
"We're excited to play either Western Michigan or Buffalo. Buffalo beat Western during the regular season. It honestly doesn't matter what seed you are in this tournament, it's going to be difficult for any team to make it to the finals."
2019 MAC WOMEN'S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS
University at Buffalo | Buffalo, N.Y.
April 26-28, 2019
Friday, April 26 | Quarterfinals:
Match 1: No. 4 seed Ball State vs. No. 5 seed Toledo, 10 a.m.
Match 2: No. 3 seed Western Michigan vs. No. 6 seed Buffalo, 2 p.m.
Saturday, April 27 | Semifinals:
Match 3: No. 1 seed Miami vs. Match #1 winner, 10 a.m.
Match 4: No. 2 seed Akron vs. Match #2 winner, 2 p.m.
Sunday, April 28 | Championship Final:
Match 5: Semifinal winners, Noon
SCOUTING WESTERN MICHIGAN
The No. 3 seed Broncos, under the direction of fourth-year head coach Ryan Tomlinson, stand 12-10 overall after finishing MAC play at 4-3. During the regular season, WMU claimed a 4-3 home win over Akron. In series action, Western Michigan holds a 26-8 series advantage over Akron, including a three-match win streak.
SCOUTING BUFFALO
The No. 6 seed and defending MAC champion Bulls, under the guidance of sixth-year head coach Kristen Maines, host the 2019 MAC Women's Tennis Championship. Buffalo stands 13-7 overall after finishing MAC play at 3-4. During MAC play, Akron took a 6-1 road victory at UB. In series action, the Zips hold a 16-11 edge.
SCOUTING MIAMI
The No. 1 seed RedHawks, under the guidance of second-year head coach Ricardo Rosas, the 2019 MAC Coach of the Year, stand 10-10 overall after capturing the MAC regular-season title with a 6-1 record. In the MAC opener, Akron captured a 4-3 home win over Miami. In series action, UM lead the Zips, 26-4.
ALL-MAC HONORS
Akron redshirt senior Sophia Geier (Burgebrach, Germany) was named the 2019 Mid-American Conference Women's Tennis Player of the Year. Geier and sophomore Miruna Vasilescu (Ulm, Germany) earned first-team All-MAC honors, while sophomore Anna Uljanov (Schweinfurt, Germany) was a second-team All-MAC selection.
All three Zips have been honored by the MAC before. Geier is a three-time All-MAC honoree as well as the 2017 MAC Player of the Year. As true freshmen last spring, Vasilescu and Uljanov earned second-team All-MAC honors in 2018, while Vasilescu was named the league's Newcomer of the Year.
ZIPS' MAC HISTORY
Akron returns to MAC Championship play after missing out in 2018. The Akron Zips have won the MAC Tournament championship twice in school history– in 2011 and 2012 under coach Brandon Padgett. The Zips have also advanced to NCAA play in 2011, 2012, and 2013.
Ironically, the Zips were the No. 2 seed during each championship run in 2011 and 2012.
DOWN TO THE WIRE
Five of Akron's seven matches in MAC play finished with a 4-3 score. UA's only sweep was a 7-0 victory over Northern Illinois. Seeded second, Akron finished regular-season play with the best overall record at 20-5.
HEAD COACH BRANDON PADGETT
In his ninth season at Akron, head coach Brandon Padgett has mentored 22 All-MAC honorees, 20 Academic All-MAC student-athletes, three Players of the Year, and two prestigious MAC Leann Grimes Davidge Sportsmanship award winners. His Zips have earned the ITA All-Academic Team Award every year. Additionally, UA tennis has scored a perfect 1000 APR score the last three years.
MEET THE ZIPS
Akron will be led by redshirt senior Sophia Geier (Burgebrach, Germany) at the No. 1 spot. The two-time MAC Player of the Year, she stands 27-4 in singles action, 19-1 in spring action, and finished a perfect 7-0 in MAC play, all at the No. 1 spot. Geier will finish her collegiate career ranked No. 2 in career singles wins (currently has 104) and combination singles/doubles wins (currently has 174) while her 70 doubles victories rank No. 11 on the career chart.
Sophomore Miruna Vasilescu (Ulm, Germany) stands 22-9 overall and 19-4 this spring, (6-1 in MAC play), playing at No. 1 and No. 2. She is a also perfect 4-0 at the No. 1 spot.
Sophomore Anna Uljanov (Schweinfurt, Germany) stands 21-10 overall and 17-5 this spring (6-1 in MAC play), at the No. 2-3 spots.
Senior Luisa Echeverry (Cali Colombia) is 12-11 in singles action this spring, playing the No. 3-4 spots.
Junior captain Rita Pedroso (Porto, Portugal) is 15-7 this spring at the No. 4-6 spots.
Freshman Claudia Cecilia Rosas Garcias (Gaudalajara, Mexico) stands 17-11 in singles action and 11-7 this spring, playing the No. 3-6 spots.
In doubles action, Pedroso and Vasilescu stand 22-8 overall and 17-6 this spring at the No. 1 position.
At No. 2 doubles, Geier and Uljanov are 15-6 overall and 12-6 this spring.
At No. 3 doubles, senior Carla Flores (Coahuila, Mexico) has teamed with Echeverry, Rosas, or freshman Enya Forgaci (Boca Raton, Fla.).
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
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/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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