Story courtesy of University of Akron Athletic Media Relations
BUFFALO, N.Y. ? The ninth-seeded University
of Akron tennis team lost 4-1 to eighth-seeded Northern Illinois on Thursday in
the first round of play in the Mid-American Conference Championship at Ellicott
Tennis Center on the University at Buffalo campus.
The loss eliminated
the Zips (5-15) from the tournament, while the Huskies (4-13) advance to take on
top-seeded and nationally-ranked Western Michigan in Friday's quarterfinal
round.
Akron took the early advantage by claiming the doubles point,
behind victories at the first and third positions. The Zips tandem of Tanyaradzwa
Gombera and Carolina
Castro Cota downed Nao Umemura and Brooke Forsberg 8-4 at No. 1, while UA’s
Jeremie
Benjamin and Kerry
Langworthy defeated Doris Delgadillo and Jenny Edner 8-4 at No.
3.
Northern Illinois rallied in singles play, winning at Nos. 2, 3, 5 and
6 in straight sets to clinch the match victory. Castro Cota lost 6-2, 6-1 at No.
2, Berry fell 6-2, 6-4 at No. 3, Alyssa
Carlson was bested 6-2, 6-0 at No. 5 and Langworthy was defeated 6-1, 6-2 at
No. 6.
At the time the match was clinched, Gombera led 7-6 (8), 3-0 at
No. 1 and Benjamin was ahead 3-6, 6-4, 2-0 at No. 4.
The MAC Championship
runs through Sunday, with the winner earning an automatic bid into the NCAA
tournament.
RESULTS
(8) Northern Illinois 4, (9) Akron
1
Doubles
1-Gombera/Castro Cota (UA) def. Umemura/Forsberg
(NIU) 8-4
2-Asuje/Friedlund (NIU) led Berry/Carlson (UA)
6-5
3-Benjamin/Langworthy (UA) def. Delgadillo/Edner (NIU)
8-4
Singles
1. Tanyaradzwa
Gombera (UA) led Nao Umemura (NIU) 7-6 (8), 3-0
2. Carolina
Castro Cota (UA) lost to Lilian Asuaje (NIU) 6-2, 6-1
3. Lindsey
Berry (UA) lost to Katie Friedlund (NIU) 6-2, 6-4
4. Jeremie
Benjamin (UA) led Brooke Forsberg (NIU), 3-6, 6-4, 2-0
5. Alyssa
Carlson (UA) lost to Jenny Edner (NIU) 6-2, 6-0
6. Kerry
Langworthy (UA) lost to Doris Delgadillo (NIU) 6-1, 6-2