CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Western Michigan women's tennis team nearly rallied for a victory in singles play, but the Broncos were unable to complete the comeback in falling 4-3 to the Charlotte 49ers on Saturday. With the loss, the Broncos fall to 10-7 on the season.
The Broncos dropped the doubles point but took three of the six singles points, just barely missing out on taking the match and giving head coach Betsy Kuhle her 500th career win. Nini Sujashvili helped the effort by taking her team-leading 14th singles victory, downing Alexandra Zinn 7-5, 4-6, 4-1 before Zinn pulled out of the contest, while freshman Caroline Aleck extended her singles winning streak to a team-high nine matches in defeating Iveta Guneva 6-2, 6-1 in the No. 6 singles match.
Also victorious in singles play was Kathleen Hawkins, who won her second singles match of the weekend by outlasting Anna Ekelund in the No. 5 match. Hawkins held off Ekelund in the first set, winning 7-6 (5), before shutting her opponent down by a 6-1 score in the second set.
The doubles competition between the two teams was tight, but the 49ers took the point and the crucial advantage in the overall match. Jill Pastunink and Maria Nivia had the closest match of the lot, falling 9-7 to Lisa Grosselius and Anna Ekelund in the No. 2 doubles match. Sujashvili and April Kerr couldn't capitalize on the momentum from their win on Friday, falling 8-6 to Zinn and Rivera.
Maggie Remynse took a one-set lead over Andrea Rivera in the No. 2 singles match, but Rivera adjusted after a first set loss to defeat Remynse 4-6, 6-3, 6-1. Rachel Denny lost a tight first set to Natsuko Takayanagi in the No. 3 singles before dropping the overall match.
The Broncos will be back in action on Friday, March 23rd when they host Northern Illinois in the Mid-American Conference opener.
Singles competition
1. Nini Sujashvili (WMU) def. Alexandra Zinn (CHA) 7-5, 4-6, 4-1, retired
2. Andrea Rivera (CHA) def. Maggie Remynse (WMU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-1
3. Natsuko Takayanagi (CHA) def. Rachel Denny (WMU) 7-5, 6-1
4. Lisa Grosselius (CHA) def. Maria Nivia (WMU) 6-0, 6-3
5. Kathleen Hawkins (WMU) def. Anna Ekelund (CHA) 7-6 (7-5), 6-1
6. Caroline Aleck (WMU) def. Iveta Guneva (CHA) 6-2, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Alexandra Zinn/Andrea Rivera (CHA) def. Nini Sujashvili/April Kerr (WMU) 8-6
2. Lisa Grosselius/Anna Ekelund (CHA) def. Jill Pastunink/Maria Nivia (WMU) 9-7
3. Kathleen Hawkins/Caroline Aleck (WMU) def. Dominica Nemec/Natsuko Takayanagi (CHA) 8-5
