Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Michigan State
Eagles Drop Dual-Match Opener to Michigan State
1/24/2009 12:12:35 AM | Tennis
Eagles return to action Sunday, Jan. 25 at Wisconsin
EAST LANSING, Mich.—The Eastern Michigan University tennis team dropped a 7-0 decision to No. 65 Michigan State University Friday evening, Jan. 24, to open the 2008-09 spring portion of its schedule.
The loss gives the Eagles an overall record of 0-1 on the young season, while the Spartans even their mark at 1-1.
"With five players playing their first college dual matches, hopefully we got a few nerves out tonight,” said third-year head coach Ryan Ray. “MSU has a solid team. I think we competed well in many matches, and with experience I think we can turn close matches in to wins. We will look to continue to get better every time we step on the court."
The Eagles were unable to get the momentum going, dropping all three doubles matches to Michigan State, giving MSU the 1-0 advantage heading into the singles portion of the match. Sophomore Xu Chang (Beijing, China-JiNan University) and Karina Ahuja (New Dekhi, India-Modern School) fell to the hands of Stephanie Kebler and Lindsey Lonegran, 8-3, who are ranked 48th in the latest ITA Tennis poll.
The Green and White did not fair much better in singles, with five out of six matches being dropped in straight sets. Freshman Marcela Rivero (Santa Cruz, Bolivia-Saint George), at the No. 5 slot, was able to take Lindsey Lonergan to three sets, falling 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.
The Eagles will pick up in action again Sunday, Jan. 25, travelling to Madison, Wisc., string up the rackets for a 10 a.m. matchup with the University of Wisconsin.
Doubles
1. Noe/Wilson (MSU) def. Westerink/Woo (EMU) 8-6
2. No.48 Kebler/Lonergan (MSU) def. Ahuja/Xu (EMU) 8-3
3. Milosavljevic/Ivanova (MSU) def. Rivero/Muskwe (EMU) 8-2
Singles
1. Stephanie Kebler (MSU) def. Miriam Westerink (EMU) 6-3,6-4
2. Manon Noe (MSU) def. Karina Ahuja (EMU) 6-3,7-6
3. Elena Ivanova (MSU) def. Xu Chang (EMU) 6-1,6-0
4. Ana Milosavljevic (MSU) def. Joanna Woo (EMU) 7-6,6-2
5. Lindsey Lonergan (MSU) def. Marcela Rivero (EMU) 4-6,6-2,6-3
6. Dana Guentert (MSU) def. Rumbidzai Muskwe (EMU) 6-2,6-1
