Mar. 25, 2009
MAC Women’s Tennis Player of the Week
Denise Harijanto ? Buffalo
Junior - Jakarta, Indonesia
Harijanto went a perfect 4-0 on the week to begin conference play as she helped UB to a school-record eighth straight win. She won all four of her matches at first doubles and first singles as the Bulls swept Eastern Michigan, 7-0 and then defeated Toledo, 5-2. Both matches were on the road.
Additional Nominees
Zara Harutyunyan ? Akron
Freshman - Yerevan, Armenia (Yerevan Secondary School No. 134)
Harutyunyan posted a 4-0 combined record (two singles wins, two doubles wins) and helped Akron to a 1-1 mark in the opening week of league competition ? assuring itself of finishing the season with a winning record for the first time since 1995-96. The freshman has won 21-straight doubles matches and is 15-0 in dual-match singles play this season.
Christine Chiricosta ? Bowling Green
Sophomore - Avon Lake, Ohio (Avon Lake)
Won at both singles and doubles in the Falcons' MAC opener, at defending regular-season champion Western Michigan ... picked up a win over Emily Dudzik in straight sets at the second singles flight ... teamed with Kelsey Jakupcin for an 8-2 victory at the #1 doubles flight ... overall, went 2-2 on the weekend ... is now 8-1 in singles in dual-match play this year, including a 6-1 mark at the second flight ... overall, she has a 16-4 singles mark this season ... she and Jakupcin are now 6-2 in doubles play in dual matches this season ... they are 14-6 overall this year and 31-12 in their careers as a doubles team.
Xu Chang ? Eastern Michigan
Sophomore - Beijing, China-JiNan University
Xu Chang was the Eagles' lone win at both singles and doubles in the heartbreaking 4-3 loss to Akron. In singles, she easily defeated Tanya Combero in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1. In doubles, she teamed up with Karina Ahuja to defeat Gombero and teammate Kerry Langworthy by an 8-3 mark.
Anastasia Dracheva ? Miami
Sophomore - Moscow, Russia
Won at No. 2 singles vs. Northern Illinois’ Kathryn Friedlund, 6-1, 6-1; and at No. 1 doubles, 8-3, versus the Huskies, teaming with Monica Gorny in a victory over Nao Umemura/Brooke Forsberg. Miami ended a three-week layoff on Saturday with a 6-1 victory over Northern Illinois. The quirky break came after the RedHawks had to cancel a spring break trip to San Diego last week. Saturday's match was the first in conference play for the preseason favorites and the first to be contested outside this year.
Emily Rogers ? Northern Illinois
Freshman - Rochester, Minn. (Century)
Rogers picked up wins against both Ball State and Miami in NIU's MAC-opening road swing last weekend. Against the Cardinals, Rogers teamed with Lilian Asuaje at No. 2 doubles, and posted an 8-5 win over their counterparts.Rogers then posted a 2-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-1) win over Miami's Riekie Honiball the next day. For the week, Rogers recorded a 2-2 overall record.
Rachel Denny ? Western Michigan
Freshman - Oakland Township, Mich. (Academy of the Sacred Heart)
Denny increased her current winning streak to four in a row with a pair of straight set victories at No. 6 singles. Denny defeated Gillian Hush of Big East leader Marquette 7-6, 6-4 and then handled Bowling Green's Libby Harrison 6-2, 6-1 in her very first conference match. Denny improved to 21-8 overall in singles play, including 13-3 in dual matches.
Previous Honorees
Jan. 20: Zara Harutyunyan ? Akron
Jan. 27: Maha Guirguis ? Toledo
Feb. 4: Ashley Moccia - Western Michigan
Feb. 11: Kerstin Pahl - Western Michgan
Feb. 18: Tanyaradzwa Gombera ? Akron
Feb. 25: Zara Harutyunyan ? Akron
Mar. 4: Emily Dudzik ? Western Michigan
Mar. 11: Kathryn Friedlund ? Northern Illinois
Mar. 18: Kerstin Pahl ? Western Michigan
Last Week’s Results:
Friday - March 20
at Toledo 5, Akron 2
Northern Illinois 4, at Ball State 3
at UIC 5, Bowling Green 2
Buffalo 7, at Eastern Michigan 0
Western Michigan 4, at Marquette 3
Saturday - March 21
Akron 4, at Eastern Michigan 3
at Western Michigan 6, Bowling Green 1
Buffalo 5, at Toledo 2
at Miami 6, Northern Illinois 1
This Week’s Schedule:
Friday ? March 27
Northern Illinois at Akron, 1:00
Toledo at Bowling Green, 1:00
Eastern Michigan at Western Michigan, 1:00
Saturday ? March 28
Ball State at Miami, 1:00
Eastern Michigan at Bowling Green, 1:00
Northern Illinois at Buffalo, 1:00
Toledo at Western Michigan, 1:00