Mid-American Conference

MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE ANNOUNCES WOMEN’S TENNIS PLAYER AND DOUBLES TEAM OF THE WEEK

MAC Women’s Singles Tennis Player of the Week
Ani Gogvadze, Eastern Michigan – Senior, Tbilisi, Georgia (Khikhani)
Eastern Michigan senior Ani Gogvadze went 2-0 on the weekend in both matches at No. 1, coming away with a 7-6 (10-8), 6-4 victory over Pittsburgh, while also beating Cleveland State 6-3, 6-4. The Eagles went 1-1 on the week, dominating Cleveland State 5-2, and falling in a close battle with Pittsburgh. Gogvadze is now 4-0 in the dual season, playing all matches at No. 1. She's also teamed with fellow senior Andrea Martinovska at No. 2 doubles to go 3-1 on the season.
 
Additional Women’s Singles Nominees:
Carli Knezevich, Akron – Senior, Austin, Texas (Lake Travis High School)
Akron senior captain Carli Knezevich went 1-0 on the week, defeating Walsh’s Marie Kacalova, 6-1, 6-0, at No. 2 singles. In the match against Tennessee, Knezevich was up against Gabby Schuck, 6-3, 0-3, before the match was called. This spring Knezevich is 4-2 in singles action, playing No. 2 and 3.
 
Rebecca Herrington, Ball State – Sophomore, Alliston, Ontario, Canada
Ball State sophomore Rebecca Herrington played at the No. 5 position for the Cardinals this weekend against Valparaiso.  Herrington won an easy straight set victory over the Crusaders Randi Wind.  She took the first set from Wind by a score of 6-1 and then did not give up a game in the second frame winning 6-0.  Herrington helped the Cardinals defeat Valpo 6-1.
 
Paula Comella, Bowling Green – Junior, Ciutadella De Menorca, Spain (IES Ctieb)
Bowling Green junior Paula Comella earned a pair of victories on the weekend as she led the Bowling Green program to two wins at IUPUI and Indianapolis. Comella improved to a 5-1 record on the season at No. 1 singles. She defeated Valeriia Lavrenchuk (IUPUI) 6-1, 7-6 (7-4), and Volikova (UIndy) 6-3, ret.
 
Lolade Ogungbesan, Buffalo – Senior, London, England (ACS Cobham)
Buffalo senior Lolade Ogunbesan won a pair of matches for the Bulls this past weekend on the road at third singles. She began the weekend on Friday at St. Jonh’s where she came away with a 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 victory over Zofia Stanisz. Ogungbesan than swept her opponent on Saturday in the match against Hofstra with a dominating 6-0, 6-0 win over Sarah Catherine Herdon. The Pitt transfer currently leads the Bulls in singles wins with a 12-3 record.
 
Nelli Ponomareva, Miami – Senior, Krasnodar, Russia (Krasnodar School #43)
Miami senior Nelli Ponomareva went 1-1 this week at No. 1 singles.  On Saturday, Feb. 10 she lost in an extremely close match to Memphis' Hanna Sohn, 6-3, 5-7, 1-0 (13-11). After coming back from being down to the match-clinching game in set 2, she narrowly fell in a back-and-forth third set tiebreak, 13-11. On Sunday, Feb. 11 she bounced back with a 6-7, 6-3, 6-0 victory over Eastern Kentucky's Kristina Lagoda.
 
 
MAC Women’s Tennis Doubles Team of the Week
Tanja Stojanovska, Buffalo – Senior, Ohrid, Macedonia
Anna Savchenko, Buffalo – Sophomore, Limassol, Cyprus
 
Buffalo senior Tanja Stojanovska and sophomore Anna Savchenko are still undefeated this spring following two wins this past weekend on the road.  They defeated Zofia Stanisz and Jaide Collins from St. John’s on Friday afternoon, 6-3, and then they dropped just one game in a 6-1 victory over Hofstra’s Michal Kaplan and Disha Yellayi on Saturday.  They are now 3-0 on the season in dual action and 11-4 overall.
 
Additional Women’s Doubles Nominees:
Julia Sbircea, Ball State – Senior, Boca Raton, Fla. (West Boca High School)
Isabelle Dohanics, Ball State – Junior, Cranberry Township, Pa. (North Catholic Central)
 
Ball State senior Julia Sbircea and junior Isabelle Dohanics at No. doubles captured a 6-2 win over Valparaiso's Claire Czerwonka and Jalena Vujanic.  The Ball State twosome helped the Cardinals clinch the doubles point over the Crusaders to take an early 1-0 advantage heading into singles play.  The Cardinals would go onto win the match, 6-1.
 
Vanesa Pardo, Bowling Green – Junior, Puertolloano, Spain (IES Fray Andres)
Marta Bettinelli, Bowling Green – Freshman, Milan, Italy (Liceo Scientifico Leonardo Da Vinci)
 
Bowling Green junior Vanesa Pardo and freshman Marta Bettinelli went 2-0 on the weekend at No. 3 doubles, helping the Falcons to a pair of wins at IUPUI and Indianapolis. The pair shutout its opponent at IUPUI to help Bowling Green claim the doubles point, while at UIndy, the pairing helped the Falcons sweep doubles competition for the third time this season. The duo defeated Schneiger / Trinkle (IUPUI) 6-0 and Torres / Hofstetter (UIndy) 8-2.
 
Ani Gogvadze, Eastern Michigan – Senior, Tbilisi, Georgia (Khikhani)
Andrea Martinovska, Eastern Michigan – Senior, Plzn, Czech Republic
 
Eastern Michigan senior Ani Gogvadze and senior Andrea Martinovska at No. 2 doubles helped secure the doubles' point for the Eagles' win over Cleveland State with a 6-4 victory and fell in a close 6-4 match to Pittsburgh over the weekend. The duo is now 3-1 on the dual season.