Playing on their home courts in Oxford for the first time this season, the Miami University women's tennis team kept its Mid-American Conference (MAC) streak going, picking up their 30 and 31 conference victories over the weekend.
"Overall, it was a good weekend for the team and we got a little closer to our goal of winning the MAC," head coach Anca Dumitrescu said. "I felt that we got better as the weekend progressed, figuring out some things on the court and then coming through on Friday and Saturday. We are also playing more aggressive doubles and that will be highly important as we continue to move forward with the season."
On Friday, Miami overcame a loss in doubles to get a 5-2 win over MAC rival Bowling Green State University. The 'Hawks dug themselves into an early hole after the Falcons (6-7, 2-2 MAC) won two doubles matches for the point.
Miami rebounded from the setback in doubles with three consecutive singles wins. Freshman Alix Thurman won her eighth-straight dual match 6-3, 6-1 to tie the score at 1-1, then sophomore Nimisha Mohan gave the RedHawks the lead with a 6-3, 6-0 win. Honiball ended a four-match losing streak Friday with a 6-1, 6-4 victory, extending Miami's lead to 3-1. Senior Stephanie Danesis defeated the Falcons' Nikki Chiracosta for the clinching point in a 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (8-6) victory. Guerrazzi rolled to a 6-3, 6-7 (3-7), 6-4 victory for Miami's final win of the day.
The RedHawks then faced one of their toughest tests of the season Saturday, as they rallied for the doubles point on their way to a 5-2 victory over Western Michigan University at the Hepburn Courts.
The 'Hawks (11-9, 6-0 MAC) have now won 31-straight regular-season matches in MAC play, dating back to a 6-1 loss at the hands of the Broncos April 12, 2008.
Western Michigan (13-10, 2-3 MAC) was in early control of doubles play, winning the first match 8-5 and then leading 5-2 in the second, but the team of Thurman and sophomore Christiana Raymond were relentless and battled back for a 9-7 victory.
The final doubles match of the day featured Danesis and Guerrazzi against WMU's Maria Nivia and Jill Pastunink and neither team was able to pull away. The Broncos broke for a 7-6 lead, but Miami answered with three consecutive points in a 9-7 win.
Singles play were also hotly contested, with Honiball cruising to a 6-4, 6-0 win, the Broncos' Jill Pastunink rallying to win the next match, 6-2, 6-1 and Danesis coming back from an early deficit to win, 6-4, 6-3 before Western Michigan's Kathleen Hawkins posted a 6-2, 6-2 victory.
Mohan won 7-5, 6-3 to increase the RedHawk lead to 3-2 before Guerrazzi clinched the Miami victory with a 7-5, 6-1 win.
"It was great getting the doubles point today against Western Michigan because it helped give us a boost of confidence for singles," Raymond said. "I am really proud of our team and how well they keep fighting for each match."
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Miami has its last home matchup against Northern Illinois University Friday for a shot at the Red and White's fourth-straight regular season MAC title.
"Bowling Green and Western Michigan were both tough teams that played hard against us this weekend, but I think it was our team's fighting that made all the difference," Raymond said. "We supported each other and fought for each other. Losing the doubles point to Bowling Green, we knew we had to go out there and fight for every singles point ... I am really proud of our team and how well they keep fighting for each match. With only two matches left of the regular season, we will keep fighting for each match and keep getting ready for the MAC tournament."
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