BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Kathleen Hawkins posted a singles win against what is believed to be the highest-ranked singles opponent in program history, and the Western Michigan women's tennis team wrapped up a successful first day at the Hoosier Classic hosted by Indiana.
Hawkins faced off against Kansas State's Petra Niedermayerova, who ranked #12 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's season-opening rankings. Hawkins took a close straight-sets win against Niedermayerova, downing the Wildcat's top player 6-4, 7-6 (5) to advance to the second round of the Crimson Draw.
For Hawkins, it rates as her first win against a nationally-ranked singles opponent; in addition, it is believed that Niedermayerova is the highest ranked singles opponent ever defeated by a Bronco. Hawkins will continue in singles play on Saturday when she faces Indiana's Alecia Kauss.
Barbare Eristavi also advanced to the semifinals of her singles draw, as she picked up a singles win against Mid-American Conference foe Daphne Friedrichs of Eastern Michigan. Eristavi overcame a first set tiebreaker loss to take two straight against Friedrichs, winning 6-7, 6-3, 1-0 (7) to advance to the semis of the Purple Draw. She will face Indiana's Kim Schmider on Saturday. Caroline Aleck wrapped up the singles wins for the Broncos on Friday, beating the Wildcats' Maria Panaite 6-2, 7-6 (4) in the round-robin Red Draw. She will face Cincinnati's Sierra Sullivan on Saturday.
The doubles pairing of Nini Sujashvili and Tracy Kuhle advanced to the semifinals of the doubles draw, picking up a pair of wins in the Friday session. They started the day with a win over Cincinnati's Sierra Sullivan and Lauren Bellinger, winning by an 8-4 score. The Broncos' duo advanced to the semis with an impressive victory against a pair of Hoosiers, beating Kayla Fujimoto and Katie Klyczek 8-6. They will take on another pair of Hoosiers, Sophie Garre and Carolyn Chupa, on Saturday.
In addition to Kuhle and Sujashvili, two other Broncos pairings picked up wins on Friday. The pair of Hawkins and Meika Ashby defeated the Eagles' Maria Toncheva and Ankita Bhatia in a shutout, downing them 8-0, while the duo of Aleck and Kelsey King beat Kansas State's Amina St. Hill and Palma Juhasz 8-4.
Crimson Draw
Kathleen Hawkins (WMU) def. #12 Petra Niedermayerova (KSU) 6-4, 7-6 (5)
Alecia Kauss (IU) def. Nini Sujashvili (WMU) 6-1, 6-1
Gold Draw
Kelley Poggensee-Wei (UC) def. Meika Ashby (WMU) 7-6 (5), 6-3
Purple Draw
Barbare Eristavi (WMU) def. Daphne Friedrichs (EMU) 6-7, 6-3, 1-0 (7)
Kayla Fujimoto (IU) def. Kelsey King (WMU) 6-2, 6-3
Green Draw
Gabrielle Rubenstein (IU) def. Tracy Kuhle (WMU) 6-4, 6-7 (0), 1-0 (4)
Maria Paula Ribero (EMU) def. Yuriko Ono (WMU) 6-2, 6-3
Red Draw
Caroline Aleck (WMU) def. Maria Panaite (KSU) 6-2, 7-6 (4)
Doubles
Niedermayerova/Bago (KSU) def. Ono/Eristavi (WMU) 8-4
Witte/O'Gara (UC) def. Ono/Eristavi (WMU) 8-2
Hawkins/Ashby (WMU) def. Toncheva/Bhatia (EMU) 8-0
Kauss/Murdy (IU) def. Hawkins/Ashby (WMU) 8-3
Sujashvili/Kuhle (WMU) def. Sullivan/Bellinger (UC) 8-4
Sujashvili/Kuhle (WMU) def. Fujimoto/Klyczek (IU) 8-6
King Aleck (WMU) def. St. Hill/Juhasz (KSU) 8-4
Chupa/Garre (IU) def. King/Aleck (WMU) 8-1
