MAC Women’s Tennis Singles Player of the Week
Amy Kaplan, Ball State, Junior, Brooklyn, N.Y.
In the Cardinals lone Mid-American Conference match this weekend junior Amy Kaplan was the last court on out toughing her opponent at Western Michigan Friday to help Ball State remain atop of the conference standings. Kaplan found herself in a three-set thriller at the No. 3 singles position. Kaplan took the first set over the Broncos Karin Hamilton 6-2 before dropping frame two 4-6. She then found herself in a 6-6 tiebreaker in the third set but prevailed winning the match 7-6 (4) to claim the victory for the Cardinals. With the win, Kaplan improved to 14-2 in dual action and 6-1 in Mid-American Conference action.
MAC Women’s Tennis Doubles Players of the Week
Fernanda Naves/Christy Robinson, NIU
Seniors Fernanda Naves and Christy Robinson scored a 6-4 victory at number one doubles to give the Northern Illinois University women’s tennis team the doubles point which proved to be the difference in NIU’s 4-3 win over Eastern Michigan University Friday in Ypsilanti. The senior duo were moved into the No. 1 doubles spot due to injuries and had lost three straight matches in that position before getting the win Saturday in a match NIU coach Eric Burns called the best they have played this year. With its win, NIU secured a winning record on the season and its most victories in a year since 1997.
Other Singles Nominees
Azra Deniz Comlek, Buffalo, Junior, Istanbul, Trukey
Junior Azra Deniz Comlek had little trouble in her lone match of the week as she defeated Laura Silveira of Bowling Green, 6-3, 6-1. It was Comlek's second win at fourth singles and her team-leading 21st of the season.
Ana Guadiana, Western Michigan, Sophomore, Monterrey, Mexico
Guadiana went 2-0 on the weekend in singles play, with both wins coming at No. 2. In Friday's narrow 4-3 loss to Ball State she made quick work of Jessica Braun, winning 6-0, 6-2. In the 7-0 win over Kalamazoo College she defeated Renee Torres 6-0, 6-0. The pair of wins upped her dual match victory total on the season to eight.
Luisa Pelayo, Eastern Michigan, Redshirt senior, Porto, Portugal
Luisa Pelayo earned a win at No. 1, besting Erika Dimitriev from Northern Illinois, 7-6 (4), 6-4, April 15.
Cassie Alcala, Toledo, Sophomore, Pickerington, Ohio
Sophomore Cassie Alcala won her first set at No. 1, dropped the second set and was down 2-5 in the third when she fought off a match point (at 3-5) to take it all the way for a 7-6(5) win over Brindtha Ramasamy of Miami. Alcala's win clinched the match for the Rockets to win its rematch vs. conference-leader Miami, 4-3, on Friday. Alcala is 19-2 this season nd 7-1 against conference opponents. The win improved Toledo to 16-5 this season with a 6-2 mark in MAC play.
Emilia Valentinsson, Miami, Freshman, Malmo, Sweden
Emilia Valentinsson notched a 6-3, 6-2 win at No. 5 doubles against Toledo in the lone match of the week for the RedHawks. Valentinsson’s singles win helped Miami take a 2-0 lead in a hard-fought match against the Rockets. She moves to 5-2 in MAC singles action. She also teamed up with Sarah Dev to notch a 6-4 win at No. 2 doubles to help secure the doubles point for the RedHawks.
Diana Lukyanova, NIU, Sophomore, Moscow, Russia
Lukyanova clinched the Huskies' win at Eastern Michigan on Friday with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Eastern Michigan's Sabina Brichackova. Lukyanova's win gave NIU a 4-3 victory and its 15th win of the season, securing a winning season for the Huskies and its best win total in 25 years. Lukyanova's win at No. 2 singles also avenged a loss to the EMU player suffered a week before.
Other Doubles Nominees
Lindsey Zieglar/Karin Hamilton, Western Michigan
Zieglar and Hamilton went 2-0 on the weekend at No. 2 doubles. In the narrow loss to Ball State the duo helped the Broncos secure the doubles point with a 6-2 win over Livia Lukacs and Jessica Braun. IN the win over Kalamazoo College they defeated Sophie Zhuang and Meghan Killmaster, 6-1. The wins improved the pair to an 8-2 record in dual match play, including a 4-1 mark in MAC play.
Pia Schwarz & Azra Deniz Comlek, Buffalo
UB’s number one doubles team of Pia Schwarz and Azra Deniz Comlek won their lone match of the week as the pair scored an easy 6-2 win over Karg and Neuman from Bowling Green as the Bulls clinched the doubles point. They improved to 8-4 at first doubles with the win.
Luisa Pelayo/ Grace Whitney, Eastern Michigan
Earning their third consecutive win, Luisa Pelayo and Grace Whitney were victorious at No. 2 doubles for Eastern Michigan, defeating Luliia Dmitrieva and Reagan Welch from NIU, 6-4, April 15.
Brindtha Ramasamy/Laura Rico, Miami
Brindtha Ramasamy and Laura Rico continued to surge at No. 1 doubles with a 6-3 win against the No. 1 team from Toledo in the lone match of the week for the RedHawks. Ramasamy and Rico move to 8-0 in MAC doubles action. They helped Miami secure the doubles point against the Rockets to take a 1-0 lead to start the match.
