Women's Tennis Bows Out of the MAC Championships

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The 2010 season came to an end for the Eastern Michigan women's tennis team Friday evening as the Eagles lost in the quarterfinal of the Mid-American Conference Tournament, 4-2, to the host school Western Michigan. With the loss, the Eagles bow out of the tournament and end their season with an overall record of 8-14 and 2-6 in conference action.

Eastern Michigan was unable to get things going early in doubles competition as the team got behind early and was never able to recover, losing the No. 1 and No. 2 match as Western earned the point. Unlike the regular season, play is discontinued in the MAC Tournament once a team earns the doubles' point. Therefore, the No. 3 doubles matchup was called after WMU picked up the point.

The Eagles would fall behind 2-0 after Maria Nivia defeated Georgia de'Lisle-Tarr at the No. 5 position, 6-2, 6-0. But sophomore Miriam Westerink got the Eagles on board as she earned a No. 2 win in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2. After going behind 3-1, the Green and White scored another set win at the No. 1 position as freshman Julia Breuss beat Emily Dudzik 7-6(3), 6-4 to pull the match to 3-2 with the Broncos still ahead.

With just two matches remaining, WMU sealed the deal as Maggie Remynse downed Karina Ahuja at the No. 4 position. Eastern's Xu Chang was leading Western's Yumi Matsuto in the final set, but the match was called once the Broncos picked up the match-clinching point, earning a 4-2 win.

The victory advanced the team to the semifinals where it will be pitted against the No. 2 University of Akron (19-2).

“Again we came close against a solid Western team,” said EMU Head Coach Ryan Ray. “We were a bit tentative in doubles and dug ourselves a hole, but the ladies fought back in singles well. I hope that we come back next year ready to make the jump toward the top of the conference.”

#3 Western Michigan 4 #6 EMU 2

Doubles
1. Dudzik/Pastunink (WMU) def. Breuss/Westerink (EMU) 8-3
2. Matsuto/Nivia (WMU) def. Xu/de'Lisle-Tarr (EMU) 8-2
3. Kerr/Moccia (WMU) leading Ahuja/Rivero (EMU) 7-5

Singles
1. Julia Breuss (EMU) def. Emily Dudzik (WMU) 7-6(3), 6-4
2. Miriam Westerink (EMU) def. Amanda Moccia (WMU) 6-1, 6-2
3. Xu Chang (EMU) leading (WMU) 7-5, 0-6, 2-0
4. (WMU) def. Karina Ahuja (EMU) 6-3, 6-3
5. Maria Nivia (WMU) def. Georgia de'Lisle-Tarr (EMU) 6-2, 6-0
6. Jill Pastunink (WMU) def. Marcela Rivero (EMU) 6-3, 6-3

Order of Finish
Doubles
1,2
Singles
5,2,4,1,6

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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