Women's Tennis | January 14, 2017

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan women's tennis team opened up the 2016-17 Spring season in an impressive way, earning wins over Oakland (6-1) and Valparaiso (7-0) to start the season a perfect 2-0.
 
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: @WMUWomensTennis
 
"It was a good start to the season, we got a lot of matches in and had some success," second year head coach Ryan Tomlinson said. "Definitely wiping off some of the rust. We will get back to practice this week work on some things as we have two tough tests in Indiana and Notre Dame next weekend. Fight on!"
 
In the early match against Oakland, the Broncos came away with a 6-1 victory, winning the doubles point and all singles besides No. 6 to win 6-1. Senior Barbare Eristavi became the team's leader in singles wins with an easy 6-1, 6-0 win at No. 4 while senior Tracy Kuhle earned a comeback win at No. 3, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.
 
The second match was all Broncos as well, as WMU took all six singles and won the doubles point to win the match 7-0. The Broncos didn't lose a set in singles, as Melina Lyubomirova, Kuhle, Olivia Myers, Denise Azcui, Eristavi and Gabriela Slavova all earned wins in singles. Azcui pushed her winning streak to seven straight, which is a team-high while Eristavi improved to a team-best 13-1 after the two wins on Saturday.
 
The Broncos will be back in action with a tough upcoming weekend, first going at B1G foe Indiana on Saturday, Jan. 21 at 11 a.m. and then traveling to face Notre Dame on Sunday, Jan. 22 at 10 a.m.
 
MATCH 1
 Singles competition
1. Melina Lyubomirova (WMU) def. Alexandra Whall (OAKLAND) 6-1, 7-5
2. Olivia Myers (WMU) def. Allison Motea (OAKLAND) 6-3, 6-4
3. Tracy Kuhle (WMU) def. Daria Artamonova (OAKLAND) 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
4. Barbare Eristavi (WMU) def. Samantha Galloway (OAKLAND) 6-1, 6-0
5. Denise Azcui (WMU) def. Marija Milic (OAKLAND) 6-1, 6-4
6. Amanda Nilsson (OAKLAND) def. Gabriela Slavova (WMU) 7-6 (0-3), 0-6, 1-0 (0-6)
 
Doubles competition
1. Tracy Kuhle/Melina Lyubomirova (WMU) def. Alexandra Whall/Samantha Galloway (OAKLAND) 6-4
2. Denise Azcui/Olivia Myers (WMU) def. Allison Motea/Sofia Borcuti (OAKLAND) 6-1
3. Barbare Eristavi/Gabriela Slavova (WMU) vs. Daria Artamonova/Amanda Nilsson (OAKLAND) 3-5, unfinished
 
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (4,1,5,2,6,3)

MATCH 2
Singles competition
1. Melina Lyubomirova (WMU) def. Kathleen Hebble (VALPO) 6-3, 6-0
2. Tracy Kuhle (WMU) def. Paige Heuer (VALPO) 6-1, 6-1
3. Olivia Myers (WMU) def. Meg Modesto (VALPO) 6-2, 6-1
4. Denise Azcui (WMU) def. Dao Sysouvanh (VALPO) 6-2, 6-1
5. Barbare Eristavi (WMU) def. Jordan Kopfer (VALPO) 6-3, 7-5
6. Gabriela Slavova (WMU) def. Morgan Paras (VALPO) 6-1, 6-0
 
Doubles competition
1. Kathleen Hebble/Paige Heuer (VALPO) def. Tracy Kuhle/Melina Lyubomirova (WMU) 6-4
2. Denise Azcui/Olivia Myers (WMU) def. Meg Modesto/Dao Sysouvanh (VALPO) 6-0
3. Barbare Eristavi/Gabriela Slavova (WMU) def. Morgan Paras/Jordan Kopfer (VALPO) 6-4
 
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (1,6,3,2,4)