OXFORD, Ohio- Western Michigan women's tennis avenged their loss to Miami in the regular season with a tenacious performance in the semifinals of the Mid-American Conference Tournament. On Saturday afternoon, the Brown and Gold defeated the defending champions 4-2. First year head coach Ryan Tomlinson will lead the Broncos to face No. 1 seed Ball State in the MAC Championship on Sunday, May 1 at noon in Oxford, Ohio.
The No. 3 seed Broncos will have a chance to win their sixth MAC Tournament Championship.
"Great team win today," Tomlinson said. "The girls did a nice job of competing with energy."
The Broncos had to battle to win the pivotal doubles point after dropping a match at No. 2 doubles. The duo of junior Meika Ashby and freshman Denise Azcui defeated Ana Rajkovic and Hannah Shteyn in No. 3 doubles 7-5. The point was clinched when Junior Tracy Kuhle and freshman Melina Lyubomirova won at No. 1 doubles 7-5.
In singles, the Redhawks tied the match after winning at No. 5 singles, but Lyubomirova won at No. 1 singles in straight sets 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) to give the Broncos a 2-1 advantage. The Redhawks struck back with a win at No. 3 singles. Freshman Katja Fevralev defeated Andreea Badileanu 6-1, 1-6, 7-5 at No. 4 singles, the Broncos needed just one more win to clinch the match and advance.
Freshman Denise Azcui answered the call, coming through for the Broncos by winning at No. 6 singles 6-2, 7-6 (10-8).
"We still have work to do," Tomlinson said. "Ball State is a tough out and we will have to duplicate today to be successful. Couldn't be more proud of these six Broncos that have laid it all out there over the last two months."
WMU will face No. 1 Seed Ball State tomorrow at Noon in Oxford, Ohio with a MAC Championship and NCAA berth on the line.
Singles vs. Miami
1. Melina Lyubomirova (WMU) def. Hannah Shteyn (MIAMI) 6-4, 7-6 (7-3)
2. Nelli Ponomareva (MIAMI) vs. Tracy Kuhle (WMU) 6-2, 5-7, 1-2, unfinished
3. A. Shapovalova (MIAMI) def. Barbare Eristavi (WMU) 7-6 (9-7), 6-4
4. Katja Fevralev (WMU) def. Andreea Badileanu (MIAMI) 6-1, 1-6, 7-5
5. Emily Struble (MIAMI) def. Meika Ashby (WMU) 7-5, 6-2
6. Denise Azcui (WMU) def. Ana Rajkovic (MIAMI) 6-2, 7-6 (10-8)
Doubles vs. Miami
1. Tracy Kuhle/Melina Lyubomirova (WMU) def. Nelli Ponomareva/Nastia Vasyukhina (MIAMI) 7-5
2. Andreea Badileanu/A. Shapovalova (MIAMI) def. Barbare Eristavi/Katja Fevralev (WMU) 6-3
3. Meika Ashby/Denise Azcui (WMU) def. Ana Rajkovic/Hannah Shteyn (MIAMI) 7-5
