Women's Tennis Edges Bowling Green, 4-3

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Head Coach Ryan Ray's Eastern Michigan University women's tennis team had to overcome two opponents here Friday, April 20, in a Mid-American Conference dual match played on the Chippewa Racket Club outdoor courts.

EMU had to go all the way to the final singles match of the dual meet to record a 4-3 win over a visiting Bowling Green State University. The Eagles also managed to just beat the rain Friday, when the skies opened just minutes after the last match was completed.

"This was a heck of a battle as expected today," Ray said. "Our doubles is carrying us through in these close matches. Every match someone new is coming up big for us, we just need to continue it one more day tomorrow against Western to keep third place to ourselves. It should be another battle for sure."

The two teams were tied at 3-3 with just the No. 5 singles match between EMU's Mariya Toncheva and BGSU's Katie Grubb still active. Toncheva came up with a 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 win to preserve the victory for the home squad, boosting them to 5-2 in MAC action and 9-13 overall. Bowling Green falls to 8-9 overall and 3-4 in the MAC.

The Eagles opened play in their first home outdoor dual of the season by winning the doubles point, grabbing two of three matches.

EMU dropped the No. 1 doubles match, but rallied to win at No. 2 and No. 3. The No. 2 team of Toncheva and Georgia de'Lisle-Tarr defeated Maddy Eccleston and Grubb, 8-4, and the No. 3 duo of Daphne Friedrichs and Marcela Rivero handled Mary Hill and Jade Johnson, 8-5.

The Eagles would then go on to split the singles matches with wins at No. 1, No. 5 and No. 6.

Nino Mebuke defeated BGSU's Maddy Eccleston, 6-3, 6-2, at No. 1 followed by Rivero's 6-3, 6-3 win over Jessica Easdale at No. 6 and finally Toncheva's thriller over Grubb at No. 5.

The EMU women will close out the 2011-12 dual-match schedule with a 1 p.m. dual against Western Michigan here Saturday, April 21, on the Chippewa courts.

Women's intercollegiate tennis result: Friday, April 20, 2012, on the Chippewa Racket Club outdoor courts in Ypsilanti, Mich.

Final Score: Eastern Michigan University 4, Bowling Green State University 3

Doubles
1. Nikki Chiricosta/Emily Reuland (BGSU) def. Miriam Westerink/Nino Mebuke (EMU) 9-8 (3)
2. Mariya Toncheva/Georgia de'Lisle-Tarr (EMU) def. Maddy Eccleston/Katie Grubb (BGSU) 8-4
3. Daphne Friedrichs/Marcela Rivero (EMU) def. Mary Hill/Jade Johnson (BGSU) 8-5

Singles
1. Nino Mebuke (EMU) def. Maddy Eccleston (BGSU) 6-3, 6-2
2. Nikki Chiricosta (BGSU) def. Miriam Westerink (EMU) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
3. Emily Reuland (BGSU) def. Ankita Bhatia (EMU) 6-1, 6-2
4. Mary Hill (BGSU) def. Daphne Friedrichs (EMU) 7-5, 6-2
5. Mariya Toncheva (EMU) def. Katie Grubb (BGSU) 3-6, 6-1, 6-4
6. Marcela Rivero (EMU) def. Jessica Easdale (BGSU) 6-3, 6-3

Eastern Michigan Athletics

Related News

Next Event

Related Videos