Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eagles Fall, 4-3, to ‘Cuse Amidst Controversy
2/5/2010 5:34:47 PM | Tennis
Lineup controversy sparks EMU to file a complaint with the ITA
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University women's tennis team gave an undefeated Syracuse University all they could handle, but fell just short of a victory Friday, Feb. 5, as the Eagles dropped a controversial match in their home-opener, 4-3.
Splitting the six singles flights with the Orange, 3-3, the Eagles could not capitalize to take the decisive doubles point, but that point may not have been the deciding factor, according to EMU Head Coach Ryan Ray, had Syracuse complied with International Tennis Association standards.
“You're supposed to place your players according to skill level with one being your highest ranked and six being your lowest ranked,” Ray explained. “They had their best player in the five position. This player had beaten two ranked opponents in the fall and established a national ranking for herself. She was not their fifth-best player.
Ray said he plans to appeal the decision and if overturned, the Eagles would claim a victory in the match.
In singles matches, Julia Breuss (Dornbirn, Austria-Sportgymnasium) and Miriam Westerink (Rheden, The Netherlands-Thomas a Kempis) each earned dominant victories over the Orange's Emily Harman and No. 102 Alessandra Parra, respectively. Harman had been previously unbeaten on the season, while Parra is a nationally ranked player.
“I was most pleased about Julia and Miriam having very decisive wins,” said Ray. “That was very important as they begin to establish themselves as leaders of the team.”
Xu Chang (Beijing, China) was able to pick up the Eagles last victory, as she defeated 'Cuse's Christina Tan in a three-set thriller. After Xu earned a first set win, 6-2, Tan crept back in with a 6-1 decision before Xu closed the match with a 10-2, extra set victory.
“It's a difficult loss to take, especially under the circumstances, but I see us taking steps forward,” Ray said. “I feel that their lineup placement had a huge effect on the outcome, so we'll await a decision on our protest.”
The Eagles will be back in competition Saturday, Feb. 13, at home taking on Cincinnati in an 8:30 p.m. showdown at the Chippewa Club.
Singles
1. Julia Breuss (EMU) def. Emily Harman (6-1, 6-2)
2. Miriam Westerink (EMU) def. No. 102 Alessandra Parra (6-3, 6-1)
3. Xu Chang (EMU) def. Christina Tan (6-4, 1-6, (10-2))
4. Eleanor Peters (SU) def. Karina Ahuja (EMU) (6-4, 6-2)
5. No. 74 CC Sardinha def. Georgia de'Lisle-Tarr (EMU) (6-0, 6-2)
6. No. 102 Simone Kalhorn def. Marcela Rivero (EMU) (6-0, 6-1)
Doubles
1. Harman/Tan def. Breuss/Westerink 8-7 (2)
2. Jones/Sardinha def. Ahuja/de'Lisle-Tarr 8-4
3. Peters/Kalhorn def. Xu/Rivero 8-4
