Mid-American Conference

MAC Women's Tennis Scoreboard

Friday, April 17
Akron 6, Northern Illinois 1
Ball State 7, Bowling Green 0
Ball State 7, IUPUI 0

Saturday, April 18
Buffalo 4, Northern Illinois 3
Western Michigan 5, Toledo 2

Sunday, April 19
Eastern Michigan 6, Bowling Green 1
Miami 4, Ball State 3


Akron:

Zips Defeat NIU In Regular Season Final

AKRON, Ohio— The University of Akron women's tennis team closed the regular season with a 6-1 win over Northern Illinois in Mid-American Conference play on Friday at the LaTuchie Tennis Center.  The Zips improved to 11-11 overall and 3-5 in the MAC, while the Huskies fell to 11-8 overall and 2-5 in the league.

Prior to the match, lone senior Olga Shkundina (Ufa, Russia) was honored.

"Great way to close out the conference season, especially at home on senior day. I am extremely proud of this entire group for the effort that they put forth today, and for the continued toughness that they have shown all season," head coach Brandon Padgett said. "We will miss Olga greatly, but I am excited to see how the next chapter in her life unfolds."

In doubles action, Akron captured the team point with wins at the No. 2 and No. 3 spots. Junior Martina Zerbola (Neuquen, Argentina) and freshman Sophia Geier (Burgebrach, Germany) defeated Christina Alvarez and Abigail Dekkinga, 6-4. Freshman Ariadna Blinova (Riga, Latvia) and Shkundina took care of Evelyn Youel and Mary Malkin, 6-1. The teams at No. 1 doubles did not finish play.

In singles action, Akron claimed five of six victories. At No. 2 singles, Zerbola defeated Alvarez, 6-4, 6-2. At No. 3, Shkundina battled to beat Malkin, 6-4, 4-6, 1-0 (5). At No. 4, Blinova beat Arantza De La Torre, 6-1, 6-3. Geier defeated Evelyn Youel, 6-0, 6-3, at No. 5.
Sophomore Shannon Newnes (Romford, London) bat Abigail Dekkinga, 6-0, 6-2, at No. 6 singles.

Akron now awaits pairings for the 2015 MAC Championship to be held at Miami (Ohio) on April 24-26. Only the top eight teams participate. The bracket will be announced following all weekend action.

AKRON 6, NORTHERN ILLINOIS 1
LaTuchie Tennis Center -- April 17, 2015

Doubles:
1. Karolina Maksimova / Shannon Newnes (UA) vs. Nelle Youel / Arantza De La Torre (NIU), unfinished
2. Martina Zerbola / Sophia Geier (UA) def. Christina Alvarez / Abigail Dekkinga, 6-4
3. Ariadna Blinova / Olga Shkundina (UA) def. Evelyn Youel / Mary Malkin, 6-1

Singles:
1. Nelle Youel (NIU) def. Karolina Maksimova, 6-1, 6-1
2. Martina Zerbola (UA) def. Christina Alvarez, 6-4, 6-2
3. Olga Shkundina (UA) def. Mary Malkin, 6-4, 4-6, 1-0 (5)
4. Ariadna Blinova (UA) def. Arantza De La Torre, 6-1, 6-3
5. Sophia Geier (UA) def. Evelyn Youel, 6-0, 6-3
6. Shannon Newnes (UA) def. Abigail Dekkinga, 6-0, 6-2

Order of finish:
Doubles— 3, 2, 1
Singles— 1, 6, 4, 5, 3, 2


Ball State:

Women's Tennis Loses Close Match At Miami

OXFORD, Ohio - The Ball State women's tennis team (15-4, 4-3 MAC) lost a close 4-3 battle at Miami (14-6, 8-0 MAC) in its last Mid-American Conference match of the season.

"You couldn't ask for more from our team," Ball State head women's tennis coach Max Norris said.  "Toni Ormond and Ashlyn Rang came out focused and physical and that was impressive to me. We will be ready on Friday and we are coming to the tournament with something to prove. Go cards!"

Ball State trailed Miami early, after losing the doubles point to the RedHawks.  Rosalinda Calderon along with doubles partner Courtney Earnest suffered their first loss of the season on the top court, after falling 6-3 to Christine Guerrazzi and Nelli Ponomareva.  Toni Ormond and Ashlyn Rang would then even the doubles score 1-1 with their 6-2 victory over Andreea Badileanu and Ramona Costea on court three.  Bethany Moore and Courtney Wild would then fall 6-4 at the No. 2 spot to give the RedHawks their first point of the match.

In singles action on court two, Earnest made it a 1-1 match for Ball State after taking down Badileanu in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2.  With the win, Earnest improved to 22-4 on the season and 7-0 in MAC play.  Miami's Hannah Shteyn gave Miami back their lead after posting a 6-3, 6-2 win over Moore on court five.  Ashlyn Rang along with teammate Ormond put the Cardinals up 3-2 after defeating their respective opponents in straight sets.

After that, Costea captured a 6-3, 6-4 victory for the RedHawks at the No. 6 singles position over Ball State's Olivia Large.  With the match knotted at 3-3 it would come down to the top court for the victory.  Wild took the first set from Alix Thurman 6-3 but would drop the next two 6-4, resulting in the loss for the Cardinals.

The Ball State women's tennis team will return to Oxford, Ohio, for the 2015 Mid-American Conference Tournament beginning Friday with first round matches.  The MAC Tournament will continue throughout the weekend with the semifinals Saturday and finals Sunday.

Miami def. Ball State, 4-3

SINGLES
1. Alix Thurman (MU) def. Courtney Wild (BSU), 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
2. Courtney Earnest (BSU) def. Andreea Badileanu (MU), 6-2, 6-2
3. Toni Ormond (BSU) def. Christine Guerrazzi (MU), 6-4, 6-1
4. Ashlyn Rang (BSU) def. Nelli Ponomareva (MU), 6-2, 6-2
5. Hannah Shteyn (MU) def. Bethany Moore (BSU), 6-3, 6-2
6. Ramona Costea (MU) def. Olivia Large (BSU), 6-3, 6-4
Order of finish: 2, 5, 4, 3, 6, 1

DOUBLES
1. Christine Guerrazzi/Nelli Ponomareva (MU) def. Rosalinda Calderon/Courtney Earnest (BSU), 6-3
2. Hannah Shteyn/Alix Thurman (MU) def. Bethany Moore/Courtney Wild (BSU), 6-4
3. Toni Ormond/Ashlyn Rang (BSU) def. Andreea Badileanu/Ramona Costea (MU), 6-2
Order of finish: 1, 3, 2


Cardinals Sweep Bowling Green and IUPUI On Senior Day

MUNCIE, Ind. -- The Ball State women’s tennis team rolled to a pair of Senior Day sweeps Friday afternoon at Cardinal Creek Tennis Center.

The Cardinals downed Bowling Green and IUPUI, both by 7-0 scores, to close out their home schedule and run their winning streak to five straight matches. Ball State now stands at 15-4 overall (4-2 Mid-American Conference) with one regular season contest remaining.

Friday marked the final home matches in the careers of Ball State seniors Courtney Earnest, Ashlyn Rang and Courtney Wild. The trio combined to go 5-0 in singles and 2-0 in doubles Friday in the Cardinals’ two victories.

“What a great Senior Day,” Ball State coach Max Norris said. “This program has gone from the bottom of the MAC a few years ago to amassing 16 league wins the past three seasons.

“It has been a privilege to coach Courtney Wild, Ashlyn Rang and Courtney Earnest. I hope the Ball State community knows the mark they have left here. This was a good send off for them, and we are excited now to focus on Miami this Sunday.”

Ball State opened Friday’s action in dominating fashion, dropping only 11 total games on the way to its 7-0 victory over Bowling Green (0-16, 0-7 MAC). The Falcons did not win more than three games in any single set.

Earnest and Bethany Moore highlighted the match for Ball State with 6-0, 6-0 victories in their matches. Wild, Rang and Toni Ormond were also singles winners, while Bowling Green forfeited the No. 6 position. The Cardinals also won the doubles point, including a victory by Earnest and Rosalinda Calderon at the No. 1 spot. The nation’s 76th-ranked doubles team remained unbeaten this spring.

Ball State withstood a somewhat closer test from IUPUI (7-11) later in the afternoon but still managed to win all but one match in straight sets on the way to another 7-0 victory.

Ormond won a match tiebreaker over IUPUI’s Bobbi Modesto at No. 3 singles to secure the sweep. The Cardinals again had wins from Wild, Earnest and Moore along with Calderon and Olivia Large. Wild and Earnest lost just five games combined at the top two positions. Ball State also again won the doubles point.

“I am so proud of our team’s final home matches here at Cardinal Creek,” Wild said. “I have been privileged to be able to represent Ball State these past four years.”

The Cardinals will close out the regular season Sunday with a trip Oxford, Ohio, to face first-place Miami. The MAC Tournament begins Friday, April 24, also in Oxford.

Ball State 7, Bowling Green 0

Singles
1. Courtney Wild (BSU) def. Megan Miller (BGSU) 6-1, 6-3
2. Courtney Earnest (BSU) def. Harley Hutchinson (BGSU) 6-0, 6-0
3. Toni Ormond (BSU) def. Emily Witt (BGSU) 6-2, 6-1
4. Ashlyn Rang (BSU) def. Antonina Farrar (BGSU) 6-1, 6-1
5. Bethany Moore (BSU) def. Sydney Seeley (BGSU) 6-0, 6-0
6. Ball State won by default

Doubles
1. Rosalinda Calderon/Courtney Earnest (BSU) def. Harley Hutchinson/Megan Miller (BGSU) 6-1
2. Ashlyn Rang/Toni Ormond (BSU) vs. Antonina Farrar/Emily Witt (BGSU) 5-1, unfinished
3. Ball State won by default

Records
Bowling Green 0-16, 0-7 MAC
Ball State University 14-4, 4-2 MAC


Ball State 7, IUPUI 0

Singles
1. Courtney Wild (BSU) def. Valeriia Lavrenchuk (IUPUI) 6-0, 6-2
2. Courtney Earnest (BSU) def. Abbey Neff (IUPUI) 6-1, 6-2
3. Toni Ormond (BSU) def. Bobbi Modesto (IUPUI) 6-3, 4-6, 1-0 (6)
4. Rosalinda Calderon (BSU) def. Samantha Mayer (IUPUI) 6-3, 7-5
5. Bethany Moore (BSU) def. Rachael Bridegroom (IUPUI) 6-3, 6-1
6. Olivia Large (BSU) def. Marina Schneiger (IUPUI) 6-1, 6-3

Doubles
1. Bethany Moore/Courtney Wild (BSU) def. Valeriia Lavrenchuk/Samantha Mayer (IUPUI) 6-4
2. Ashlyn Rang/Toni Ormond (BSU) vs. Bobbi Modesto/Rachael Bridegroom (IUPUI), unfinished
3. Rosalinda Calderon/Olivia Large (BSU) def. Marina Schneiger/Abbey Neff (IUPUI), 6-2

Records
Ball State 15-4
IUPUI 7-11


Bowling Green:

Women's Tennis Falls In Finale

Sophomore Brittany Plaszewski picked up a singles victory in her final match of the season, but host Eastern Michigan University downed the Bowling Green State University tennis team, 6-1, Sunday afternoon (April 19). The Mid-American Conference match was held at the Claudia Wasik Tennis Complex.

EASTERN MICHIGAN 6, BGSU 1
Sunday, April 19, 2015 – Claudia Wasik Tennis Complex – Ypsilanti, Mich.
SINGLES
1 – Klara Supejova (EMU) def. Megan Miller 7-5, 6-4
2 – Ani Gogvadze (EMU) def. Harley Hutchison 6-4, 6-3
3 – Andrea Martinovska (EMU) def. Emily Witt 7-6, 6-4
4 – Brittany Plaszewski (BGSU) def. Daphne Friedrichs 2-6, 7-6, 1-0
5 – Anna Veleva (EMU) def. Antonina Farrar 6-2, 6-1
6 – Alejandra Barcelo (EMU) def. Sydney Seeley 6-0, 6-1

DOUBLES
1 – Hutchison/Miller vs. Martinovski/Supejova (EMU), 5-3 DNF
2 – Gogvadze/Veleva (EMU) def. Plaszewski/Witt 6-1
3 – Friedrichs/Barcelo (EMU) def. Farrar/Seeley 6-1

ORDER OF FINISH
Doubles: 3,2
Singles: 6,5,2,1,3,4


Cardinals Ground Falcons In Muncie

Host Ball State University defeated the Bowling Green State University tennis team by a 7-0 count Friday afternoon (April 17). The Mid-American Conference match was held at the Cardinal Creek Tennis Center.

For the second time in as many matches and the fourth time this season, the Falcons were unable to field a full lineup due to injuries. BGSU forfeited the matches at the third doubles and sixth singles flights.

In doubles play, BSU's nationally-ranked team of Rosalinda Calderon and Courtney Earnest defeated sophomore Harley Hutchison and freshman Megan Miller by a 6-1 count at the number-one flight. Sophomore Antonina Farrar and freshman Emily Witt competed for the Brown and Orange at the second flight, but their match vs. Ashlyn Rang and Toni Ormond was halted once the top-flight doubles match ended.

In singles play, the Cards swept each of the five matches that took place. BG's lineup included Miller at the top flight, with Hutchison, Witt, Farrar and freshman Sydney Seeley competing at flights two through five, respectively.

"We saw good energy from the girls today," said head coach Olga Elkin. "We are ready to have a great practice tomorrow and hopefully finish out the season on Sunday with a win."

The Falcons will close the 2014-15 season on Sunday (April 19), taking on Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti. That match is scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m. at the Claudia Wasik Tennis Complex.

BALL STATE 7, BGSU 0
Friday, April 17, 2015 – Cardinal Creek Tennis Center – Muncie, Ind.
SINGLES
1 – Courtney Wild (BSU) def. Megan Miller 6-1, 6-3
2 – Courtney Earnest (BSU) def. Harley Hutchison 6-0, 6-0
3 – Toni Ormond (BSU) def. Emily Witt 6-2, 6-1
4 – Ashlyn Rang (BSU) def. Antonina Farrar 6-1, 6-1
5 – Bethany Moore (BSU) def. Sydney Seeley 6-0, 6-0
6 – BSU won by default

DOUBLES
1 – Earnest/Rosalinda Calderon (BSU) def. Hutchison/Miller 6-1
2 – Rang/Ormond (BSU) vs. Farrar/Witt (BGSU), 5-1 DNF
3 – BSU won by default


Buffalo:

Women's Tennis Defeats NIU, 4-3

AKRON, OH – The University at Buffalo, State University of New York women's tennis team edged Northern Illinois, 4-3, Saturday afternoon at Akron to clinch a spot in the Mid-American Conference Tournament to be held April 24-26 at Miami (OH).

The Bulls (7-10, 3-4 MAC) claimed the doubles point, before splitting singles play with the Huskies (11-9, 2-6 MAC). Knotted at 3-3, the match was decided at fifth singles by sophomore Laura Holterbosch's three-set, come-from-behind victory against Evelyn Youel, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.

"Both teams fought hard today, but we had more belief that we could win no matter what," stated head coach Kristen Ortman Maines. "I give these ladies a lot of credit, their backs were against the wall and they battled hard. I'm very proud of what they did today!"

Sophomore Margarita Kotok and junior Dayana Agasieva picked up a dominating 6-2 first-doubles win to open the match. Senior Laura Fernandez and freshman Christine Haraldson added a 6-3 victory at three in turn calling the second match with freshman Tanja Stojanovska and Holterbosch leading, 5-3.

Kotok added a 6-3, 6-2 second-singles win over Cristina Alvarez and Agasieva took Arantza De La Torre, 7-5, 6-4, at four. The Bulls went three in their trio of losses. Stojanovska was edged by Nelle Youel at first singles, 7-5, 4-6, 6-2, Fernandez narrowly fell to Mary Malkin at three, 6-2, 0-6, 7-5, and Haraldson was outlasted at the sixth position by Abigail Dekkinga, 7-5, 1-6, 6-4.

The Bulls will next compete on day one of the 2015 MAC Tournament on Friday, April 24.

DOUBLES
No. 1: Kotok/Agasieva (UB) def. N. Youel/De La Torre (NIU), 6-2
No. 2: Stojanovska/Holterbosch (UB) vs. Alvarez/Dekkinga (NIU), 5-3 DNF
No. 3: Fernandez/Haraldson (UB) def. Malkin/E. Youel (NIU), 6-3

SINGLES
No. 1: Nelle Youel (NIU) def. Tanja Stojanovska (UB), 7-5, 4-6, 6-2
No. 2: Margarita Kotok (UB) def. Cristina Alvarez (NIU), 6-3, 6-2
No. 3: Mary Malkin (NIU) def. Laura Fernandez (UB), 6-2, 0-6, 7-5
No. 4: Dayana Agasieva (UB) def. Arantza De La Torre (NIU), 7-5, 6-4
No. 5: Laura Holterbosch (UB) def. Evelyn Youel (NIU), 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
No. 6: Abigail Dekkinga (NIU) def. Christine Haraldson (UB), 7-5, 1-6, 6-4


Eastern Michigan:

Eagles Defeat Falcons, 6-1

YPSILANTI, Mich. -- Eastern Michigan University's women's tennis team completed the 2014-15 regular season on a positive note as the Eagles (8-13, 4-4 MAC) defeated Bowling Green State University Sunday, April 19, on Senior Day at the Claudia Wasik Tennis Complex. Eastern knocked off the Falcons (0-17, 0-8 MAC), 6-1, after winning five of their six singles matches to cap off the season ending win.

Beginning in doubles play, the lone EMU senior, Daphne Friedrichs, teamed up with Alejandra Barcelo Almoyna to defeat Syndey Seeley and Antonina Farrar, 6-1, while Ani Gogvadze and Anna Veleva knocked off Brittany Plaszewski and Emily Witt by the same tally to secure the doubles point. Klara Supejova and Andrea Martinovska were trailing 5-3 before the match was deemed over due to the doulbes point being awarded to EMU already.

Moving on the singles play, the Eagles dominated, taking 5-of-6 matches and all of their wins were in straight sets. At No. 6, Almoyna had the most impressive performance, dispatching Seeley, 6-0, 6-1, while Veleva used a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Farrar at No. 5 to give the Green and White a 3-0 lead. Gogvadze knocked off Harley Hutchison, 6-4, 6-3 in the No. 2 position. Martinovska and Supejova each won their matches by scores of 7-6, 6-4 and 7-5, 6-4 to finish out the Eagles final win of the 2015 season.

"Bowling Green came and fought, as I would expect them to do in their season finale," stated Head Coach Ryan Ray. "We probably didn't play our best today, but it was a good test for us, and now it is time to prepare to battle next weekend at the MAC Tournament."

The Eagles move on as the No. 4 seed in the 2015 Mid-American Conference Championships and will face off with the No. 5 seeded Rockets of the University of Toledo in the quarterfinal round at 10 a.m. Friday, April 24. The tournament is hosted by Miami University from April 24-26 at the Hepburn Tennis Courts.

Singles
1. Klara Supejova (EMU) def. Megan Miller (BGSU) 7-5, 6-4
2. Ani Gogvadze (EMU) def. Harley Hutchison (BGSU) 6-4, 6-3
3. Andrea Martinovska (EMU) def. Emily Witt (BGSU) 7-6, 6-4
4. Brittany Plaszewski (BGSU) def. Daphne Friedrichs (EMU) 2-6, 7-6, 1-0 (10-4)
5. Anna Veleva (EMU) def. Antonina Farrar (BGSU) 6-2, 6-1
6. Alejandra Barcelo Almoyna (EMU) def. Sydney Seeley (BGSU) 6-0, 6-1

Doubles
1. Harley Hutchison/Megan Miller (BGSU) vs. Andrea Martinovska/Klara Supejova (EMU) 5-3, unfinished
2. Ani Gogvadze/Anna Veleva (EMU) def. Brittany Plaszewski/Emily Witt (BGSU) 6-1
3. Daphne Friedrichs/Alejandra Barcelo Almoyna (EMU) def. Sydney Seeley/Antonina Farrar (BGSU) 6-1


Miami:

RedHawks Clinch Outright Regular Season Title With 4-3 Win Over Ball State

HAMILTON, Ohio – It was only fitting that two seniors would lead the Miami University women’s tennis team to a victory in their home finale. The RedHawks (14-6, 8-0) came back to defeat the Ball State Cardinals (15-5, 4-3), 4-3, to clinch the school’s 20th outright Mid-American Conference regular season championship Sunday afternoon at the Riverside Athletic Club.

It was an emotional day for the RedHawks, following a pre-match ceremony to honor seniors Ramona Costea, Christine Guerrazzi, and Alix Thurman. The drama continued into match play with Miami facing a potential defeat. After falling behind 3-2 to the Cardinals, Miami would grab two victories to clinch the victory, including Thurman’s thrilling three-set triumph.

The RedHawks’ tough battle began with a competitive doubles round from Ball State. In first flight, Guerrazzi and freshman Nelli Ponomareva pulled off an impressive 6-3 upset against the 76th-ranked pair of Rosalinda Calderon and Courtney Earnest. The Cardinals pulled off their own surprise, handing Costea and sophomore Andreea Badileanu their first loss in 14 matches, a 6-2 result that knotted up the round. Finally, Thurman and freshman Hannah Shteyn completed an 8-0 MAC season with their 6-4 victory over Bethany Moore and Courtney Wild, clinching a well-earned doubles point.

The hard-fought play continued into singles with Ball State picking up wins in three of the first four matches. Among the defeats, Shteyn completed an undefeated singles conference season, beating Moore, 6-3, 6-2 in fifth flight.

With the Cardinals inching towards a victory, Miami’s remaining matches were in the hands of winning veterans. In sixth flight, Costea fought off a late charge from Olivia Large to win 6-3, 6-3, tying the match at 3 apiece. Finally, in first flight, Thurman overcame a first set loss to send her match into a third set that would determine the entire match’s result. After going ahead 4-0, Ball State’s Courtney Wild fought back to tie the set, but Thurman pulled through with two more games to take the match, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. The victory gave Miami its 18th undefeated MAC regular season in school history.

The RedHawks will now turn their attention to defending their two-time MAC Tournament Championship next weekend in Oxford. Miami will be the top seed in the bracket and will face the winner of a #4/#5 matchup on Saturday with a potential championship match on Sunday. Weather permitting, all matches will take place at the Hepburn Varsity Tennis Courts with the top six teams in the MAC standings vying for an automatic berth in the NCAA Division I Women’s Tennis Championship. The official draw and schedule will soon be announced by the conference.

Check MURedHawks.com for previews of this week’s championship. The website will also broadcast live stats of all matches with recaps from all of Miami’s contests.

SINGLES

1. Alix Thurman (MU) def. Courtney Wild (BSU), 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
2. Courtney Earnest (BSU) def. Andreea Badileanu (MU), 6-2, 6-2
3. Toni Ormond (BSU) def. Christine Guerrazzi (MU), 6-4, 6-1
4. Ashlyn Rang (BSU) def. Nelli Ponomareva (MU), 6-2, 6-2
5. Hannah Shteyn (MU) def. Bethany Moore (BSU), 6-3, 6-2
6. Ramona Costea (MU) def. Olivia Large (BSU), 6-3, 6-4
Order of finish: 2, 5, 4, 3, 6, 1

DOUBLES
1. Christine Guerrazzi/Nelli Ponomareva (MU) def. Rosalinda Calderon/Courtney Earnest (BSU), 6-3
2. Hannah Shteyn/Alix Thurman (MU) def. Bethany Moore/Courtney Wild (BSU), 6-4
3. Toni Ormond/Ashlyn Rang (BSU) def. Andreea Badileanu/Ramona Costea (MU), 6-2
Order of finish: 1, 3, 2


Northern Illinois:

Youel Completes Undefeated Spring In Singles, Sets Another NIU Record;
Huskies Fall To Buffalo, 4-3

AKRON, Ohio -- A legendary career for Northern Illinois University women's tennis senior Nelle Youel concluded on Saturday afternoon in the most fitting way possible: with a gutsy three-set victory that helped her set another NIU school record.

Fighting her way to a back-and-forth win (7-5, 4-6, 6-2) over Buffalo's Tanya Stojanovska at No. 1 singles in Mid-American Conference action, Youel (Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake Central) completed her undefeated spring season in singles, 20-0 (8-0 MAC). Unfortunately, Youel's victory wasn't enough as the Huskies (11-9, 2-6 MAC) dropped a 4-3 decision to the Bulls (7-10, 3-4 MAC) in Akron.

The victory also gave Youel her 28th singles victory of the 2014-15 campaign, breaking her own school record for singles wins in a season that she had previously set during her sophomore campaign in 2012-13. Adding to her 20 singles victories this spring, Youel won eight matches during NIU's schedule last fall.

Youel finishes her senior spring campaign with a 31-3 overall record, 20-0 in singles and 11-3 in doubles. She will now wait to hear if she will be selected to the NCAA Division I Women's Tennis Singles Championships.

"It's a crazy, thrilling and very rewarding -- all at the same time," Nelle Youel said of finishing her final spring season without a loss. "It concluded with a tough three-set match against a really talented player from Buffalo, which made going undefeated even more exciting. I just feel like all the hard work I've put in over the past four years -- season in and season out -- has paid off, and I'm very blessed to have done what I did this season."

If Youel doesn't play another collegiate match, she will finish her unbelievable NIU career with school-record win totals in singles (89), doubles (74) and total combined victories (163), giving her every major career record in Huskie women's tennis history.

Amidst another record-setting day for Youel, Saturday's team match between the Huskies and the Bulls came down to the wire.

Buffalo took the doubles point, but the Huskies rallied in singles with wins by Nelle Youel, Mary Malkin (Tel Aviv, Israel/Alliance) and Abigail Dekkinga (Allegan, Mich./Allegan), which tied the team score at 3-3 before the Bulls rallied to win the No. 5 singles match to earn the team victory, which clinched the No. 6 seed in the MAC for Buffalo and put the Bulls in the conference tournament.

NIU head coach Tanya Gombera was disappointed her team didn't advance to the MAC Tournament. But as her first season at the helm of the Huskies concluded, she looked at the positives of a memorable campaign that saw the Huskies win 11 matches overall and become much more competitive in the conference with two MAC victories and three close one-point defeats, including Saturday's.

"I felt we were a little bit flat to start the doubles, but we definitely were able to pick it up in singles," Gombera said. "Overall, I have to thank the seniors for their service to NIU and this program. They were great leaders on this team. Also, big congratulations to Nelle Youel and all of her accomplishments."

The seniors Gombera mentioned -- Youel, Malkin, Arantza De La Torre (San Luis Potosi, Mexico) and Stephanie McDonald (Harare, Zimbabwe/St. Anne's Diocesan College) -- likely represented NIU in competitive action for the final time on Saturday, concluding great careers as Huskies.

Buffalo 4, NIU 3

DOUBLES
No. 1: Kotok/Agasieva (UB) def. N. Youel/De La Torre (NIU), 6-2
No. 2: Stojanovska/Holterbosch (UB) vs. Alvarez/Dekkinga (NIU), 5-3 DNF
No. 3: Fernandez/Haraldson (UB) def. Malkin/E. Youel (NIU), 6-3

SINGLES
No. 1: Nelle Youel (NIU) def. Tanja Stojanovska (UB), 7-5, 4-6, 6-2
No. 2: Margarita Kotok (UB) def. Cristina Alvarez (NIU), 6-3, 6-2
No. 3: Mary Malkin (NIU) def. Laura Fernandez (UB), 6-2, 0-6, 7-5
No. 4: Dayana Agasieva (UB) def. Arantza De La Torre (NIU), 7-5, 6-4
No. 5: Laura Holterbosch (UB) def. Evelyn Youel (NIU), 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
No. 6: Abigail Dekkinga (NIU) def. Christine Haraldson (UB), 7-5, 1-6, 6-4


Huskies Fall To Zips, 6-1

AKRON, Ohio -- The Northern Illinois University women's tennis team dropped a 6-1 decision to Akron in Mid-American Conference play on Friday afternoon, but senior Nelle Youel recorded another historic victory in the match.

NIU's loss as a team dropped the Huskies (11-7, 2-5 MAC) out of the top six in the MAC standings, with the Zips (11-11, 3-5 MAC) climbing into the crucial sixth spot.

But with her 27th singles victory of the 2014-15 season, Youel (Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake Central) tied her own school record for singles wins in an entire season, previously set in 2012-13. The senior from nearby Crystal Lake, Ill., who owns every major career NIU women's tennis program record, is now 19-0 (7-0 MAC) in singles in the spring 2015 campaign. She also won eight matches during the fall.

Unfortunately, Youel's 6-1, 6-1 victory at No. 1 singles over Akron's Karolina Maksimova was the only point the Huskies won on Friday after suffering several close defeats to the Zips in other matches.

NIU head coach Tanya Gombera described her team's defeat to Akron as a difficult one to take after it eliminated her team from MAC Tournament contention due to tiebreakers that make it impossible for NIU to return to the top six of the conference standings.

But Gombera is hoping the Huskies can have a better performance tomorrow in their season finale.

"It was definitely a tough loss, but today I think Akron out-played us in several key moments, so we must give credit to Akron," Gombera said. "Tomorrow is another day, and we are hoping to come out strong against Buffalo."

The NIU women's tennis team will finish its season when the Huskies face Buffalo tomorrow afternoon in Akron.

Nelle Youel can set the NIU all-time record for singles wins in a year and finish her undefeated spring singles campaign with another individual victory.

Akron 6, NIU 1

Doubles
No. 1: Karolina Maksimova / Shannon Newnes (UA) vs. Nelle Youel / Arantza De La Torre (NIU), unfinished
No. 2: Martina Zerbola / Sophia Geier (UA) def. Cristina Alvarez / Abigail Dekkinga, 6-4
No. 3: Ariadna Blinova / Olga Shkundina (UA) def. Evelyn Youel / Mary Malkin, 6-1

Singles
No. 1: Nelle Youel (NIU) def. Karolina Maksimova, 6-1, 6-1
No. 2: Martina Zerbola (UA) def. Cristina Alvarez, 6-4, 6-2
No. 3: Olga Shkundina (UA) def. Mary Malkin, 6-4, 4-6, 1-0 (10-5)
No. 4: Ariadna Blinova (UA) def. Arantza De La Torre, 6-1, 6-3
No. 5: Sophia Geier (UA) def. Evelyn Youel, 6-0, 6-3
No. 6: Shannon Newnes (UA) def. Abigail Dekkinga, 6-0, 6-2


Toledo:

Rockets Fall In Regular Season Finale

KALAMAZOO, MI - The Toledo women's tennis team dropped a 5-2 decision to Western Michigan on Saturday afternoon in its Mid-American Conference regular season finale.  The loss drops the Rockets to 13-9 on the year and 4-4 in MAC play.

WMU led off the match by capturing the doubles point, winning two of three of the doubles matchups. The duo of senior Lexy Pitt and junior Emily Mazzola had its match go unfinished.

In singles play, the Midnight Blue & Gold scored points in each of the top two spots.

Senior Pia Rygh won in straight sets, 6-2, 7-5, at the No. 1 singles slot to win her 10th match of the season and her fourth in league play.

Pitt added the second win for the Rockets at the No. 2 spot, with a 6-4, 0-6, 6-4 win. Pitt is tied for second on the team with 11 wins in singles play this season.

The Broncos tallied wins in Nos. 3-6 singles to clinch the victory.

The Rockets will compete in next weekend's MAC Tournament hosted by Miami, beginning on Friday, April 24. Seeding and match times will be determined this week.


Western Michigan:

Women's Tennis Downs Toledo, 5-2

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan women’s tennis team recorded a strong win in the final home matches in the careers of senior Caroline Aleck and head coach Betsy Kuhle, with the Broncos defeating the Toledo Rockets 5-2 in front of over 100 fans and former players at Sorensen Courts on Saturday. With the win, the Broncos enter the 2015 Mid-American Conference tournament with a 15-8 overall record, including a 7-1 MAC record, and the second seed in the field. The Broncos can still earn a share of the MAC regular season title with a Miami loss to Ball State on Sunday.

A host of former Broncos traveled to Sorensen Courts for Kuhle’s final home match, as the Hall of Fame coach announced earlier this year she would retire at the end of the season. The team made sure they stuck to the script as well, taking the doubles point and the first four singles matches off the court to eliminate the drama as to whether or not Kuhle would walk off the court in her final home match on top.

Aleck was also able to wrap her final home match in appropriate fashion, gritting through a hard-fought second set in the No. 5 singles match to clinch the team victory. The Broncos’ lone senior held off a late charge from Lauren Thai to earn a straight-sets victory, winning 6-3, 6-4 to pick up the essential fourth point of the match.

The doubles pairing of Tracy Kuhle and Olivia Myers started the day by cruising to an easy victory over the Rockets’ Sidnay Huck and Mackenzie Bowman, winning 6-1 in the No. 3 doubles match. Aleck and Meika Ashby clinched the doubles point in a hard-fought battle in the No. 1 doubles match, taking three of the last four games against Lauren Thai and Pia Rygh to win 6-3.

Barbare Eristavi made quick work of Huck in the No. 3 singles match, winning 6-0, 6-4 to claim the first point of the singles session, and Tracy Kuhle tacked on just moments after with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Emily Mazzola in the No. 4 singles match. Aleck clinched the team win with her victory over Thai in the No. 5 spot, and Yuriko Ono came back from a set down to wrap the scoring with a 1-6, 6-2, 6-2 win over Bowman at No. 6.

Western Michigan 5, Toledo 2

Singles competition
1. Pia Rygh (TOLEDO) def. Meika Ashby (WMU) 6-2, 7-5
2. Lexy Pitt (TOLEDO) def. Olivia Myers (WMU) 6-4, 0-6, 6-4
3. Barbare Eristavi (WMU) def. Sidnay Huck (TOLEDO) 6-0, 6-4
4. Tracy Kuhle (WMU) def. Emily Mazzola (TOLEDO) 6-3, 6-2
5. Caroline Aleck (WMU) def. Lauren Thai (TOLEDO) 6-3, 6-4
6. Yuriko Ono (WMU) def. Mackenzie Bowman (TOLEDO) 1-6, 6-2, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. Meika Ashby/Caroline Aleck (WMU) def. Lauren Thai/Pia Rygh (TOLEDO) 6-3
2. Yuriko Ono/Barbare Eristavi (WMU) vs. Emily Mazzola/Lexy Pitt (TOLEDO) 4-5, unfinished
3. Tracy Kuhle/Olivia Myers (WMU) def. Sidnay Huck/Mackenzie Bowman (TOLEDO) 6-1

Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (3,4,5,6,1,2)