Netters Open Season with 6-1 Win Over Detroit

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's tennis team was able to build from a productive fall exhibition season and use that experience to its advantage as the squad opened the 2010 season on Jan. 17, with a 6-1 win over the University of Detroit Mercy at the Franklin Athletic Club in Southfield, Mich.

Freshman sensations Celine Donnet and Julia Breuss each downed their competitors in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4 and 6-4, 6-2, respectively. The young squad, consisting of two freshmen, five sophomores and one junior, also got a huge contribution from third-year netter Xu Chang, as she rallied from behind to defeat UDM's Sophie Sjoberg-Sundstrom. After losing the first set 1-6, Xu bounced back with a 7-5 win, forcing a third set. In the final set, she was able to pull out a 10-6 victory in what was arguably the hardest fought win of the match for the Eagles.

In doubles competition, Xu and Donnet teamed up for an 8-2 win, while Breuss and Miriam Westerink picked up an 8-4 victory over UDM's Svetlana Flankova and Sjoberg-Sundstrom.

“It's good for us to pick up a win to start the season,” said EMU Head Coach Ryan Ray. “However, our performance at the start of singles was pretty flat. I credit Detroit with giving us a great fight at many positions tonight. I think we got a few first-match jitters out for our newcomers, and we will look to play sharper tennis next weekend.”

The Eagles will return to the court Jan. 22, when the team travels to West Lafayette, Ind. to take on Purdue.

Doubles
Breuss/Westerink (EMU) def. Sjoberg-Sundstrom/Flankova (UDM) 8-4
Salas Espinosa/Cornwell (UDM) def. Ahuja/de'Lisle-Tarr (EMU) 8-5
Xu/Donnet (EMU) def. Weldon/Baca (UDM) 8-2

Singles
Julia Breuss (EMU) def. Carolina Salas Espinosa (UDM) 6-4,6-2
Xu Chang (EMU) def. Sophie Sjoberg-Sundstrom (UDM) 1-6,7-5,(10-6)
Miriam Westerink (EMU) def. Svetlana Flankova (UDM) 6-1,6-0
Amanda Cornwell (UDM) def. Karina Ahuja (EMU) 6-4,6-4
Georgia de'Lisle-Tarr (EMU) def. Erin Weldon (UDM) 2-6,6-3,(10-3)
Celine Donnet (EMU) def. Melanie Capuano (UDM) 6-4,6-4

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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