Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Northern Illinois
Eagles Drop Huskies, Earn Seventh Seed in the MAC Tournament
4/18/2009 9:55:15 PM | Tennis
Eagles will play Buffalo Friday April 24
YPSILANTI, Mich.--The Eastern Michigan University women's tennis team used a solid team effort Saturday, April 18, to beat Northern Illinois University, 5-2, in a Mid-American Conference match. With the win, the Eagles, with an overall record of 5-15, 2-6 in the MAC, earn the seventh seed in the conference tournament, April 23-26.
"I was proud to see the ladies step up and put in a solid performance when needed today," said head coach Ryan Ray. "We've come along in doubles in the last two matches, and our young team is starting to learn to finish off matches with confidence. We will start off against a quality team in the quarters of the tournament next week, so we will start preparing Monday."
The Eagles picked up yet another doubles win this week, as the top flight of Miriam Westerink (Rheden, Netherlands) and Joanna Woo (Winnipeg, Manitoba) easily defeated Brooke Forseberg and Martina Schnapp, 8-2. At the second doubles, Xu Chang (Beijing, China) and Karina Ahuja (New Delhi, India) won by a score of 8-3, beating Lilian Asuaje and Emily Rogers.
In singles the Eagles swept the top three flights, Westerink picked up a win at the top seed, defeating Asuaje in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3. Chang, at the No. 2 slot, defeated Katie Friedland, 7-5, 6-4, while Ahuja won 6-2, 6-4, beating Schnapp. Marcela Rivero (Santa Cruz, Bolivia) picke dup the final win at the fifth singles, defeating Forseberg in two, 7-5, 6-2.
Woo, a senior, played in her final home match for the Eagles Saturday, and was honored before the match for her accomplishments on and off the court.
As stated above, the Eagles earned the seventh seed in the MAC tournament and will play the University at Buffalo, the defending MAC Champions Friday, April 24 at 2 p.m. Bowling Green State University's Keefe Courts will be the sight of the tournament, with the Perrysburg Tennis Center serving as the bad weather facility.
EMU 5 NIU 2
Doubles
1. Westerink/Woo (EMU) def. Forsberg/Schnapp (NIU) 8-2
2. Xu/Ahuja (EMU) def. Asuaje/Rogers (NIU) 8-3
3. Friedlund/McLaughlin (NIU) def. Rivero/Muskwe (EMU) 8-1
Singles
1. Miriam Westerink (EMU) def. Lilian Asuaje (NIU) 6-4,6-3
2. Xu Chang (EMU) def. Katie Friedland (NIU) 7-5,6-4
3. Karina Ahuja (EMU) def. Martina Schnapp (NIU) 6-2,6-4
4. Emily Rogers (NIU) def. Joanna Woo (EMU) 6-3,6-1
5. Marcela Rivero (EMU) def. Brooke Forsberg (NIU) 7-5,6-2
6. Sara McLaughlin (NIU) def. Rumbidzai Muskwe (EMU) 6-0,6-3
1. Miami (8-0)
2. Buffalo (6-2)
3. Western Michigan (6-2)
4. Bowling Green (5-3)
5. Toledo (4-4)
6. Akron (4-4)
7. Eastern Michigan (2-6)
8. Northern Illinois (1-7)
9. Ball State (0-8)
Tournament
Thurs. 12PM
#8 Northern Illinois vs. #9 Ball State
Friday 10AM
#1 Miami vs. NIU/BSU winner
#4 Bowling Green vs. #5 Toledo
Friday 2PM
#3 Western Michigan vs. #6 Akron
#2 Buffalo vs. #7 Eastern Michigan
Saturday 10AM
Semifinal #1
Saturday 2PM
Semifinal #2
Sunday 1PM
Final
Final Mid-American Conference Standings (4/18/2009)
