By Scott Sutton, For The Miami Student
The Miami University tennis team (12-9) defeated both Northern Illinois University (6-13) 7-0, and Western Michigan University (17-7) 5-2 to wrap up their regular season this weekend.
The 'Hawks dominated the entire NIU match from start to finish Saturday. The match began with undefeated doubles play from the pairs of first-year Anastasiia Vasiukhina and sophomore Nelli Ponomareva, first-year Anzhelika Shapovalova and junior Andreea Badileanu, and sophomore Hannah Shteyn and senior Ana Rajkovic. Shteyn and Rajkovic won their match by forfeit.
Shteyn, Ponomareva, Shapovalova, Badileanu, Struble and Rajkovic also all won their singles matches. Rajkovic won by forfeit. Ponomareva moved to 7-0 in MAC play by defeating sophomore Abigail Dekkinga 6-1, 6-1.
Sophomore Erin Rodriguez was very happy with the way her team played, and believes her team is ready for the upcoming MAC tournament.
"It feels great," Rodriguez said. "It lets us know that the hard work we've put in all season is finally paying off and gives us motivation going into the MAC tournament. We're just going to go into the tournament with the same mindset we've had all season and hope
fully play the same way. It feels great to accomplish our sixth straight win and we hope to keep it going moving forward."
Miami began the match against Western Michigan by gaining a point from doubles play. The pair of Ponomareva and Vasiukhina won their match 7-5, and Badileanu and Shapovalova won their match 6-4. Shteyn and Rajkovic were defeated 7-5 by first-year players Denise Azcui and Meika Ashby.
Singles play finished with four wins from Miami players. Shteyn, Badileanu, Struble and Rajkovic each defeated their opponents. Rajkovic defeated first-year Denise Azcui 6-4,6-4. Rajkovic is a senior and was just honored the previous weekend for her four great years at Miami. She is 10-10 overall and currently on a three game winning streak.
"We are proud to continue the legacy of winning at Miami," Head Coach Yana Carollo said. "The team is excited; they want the rings. We did it for our senior Ana Rajkovic today, it was awesome to see her clinch the match! We will work on specific things that we are struggling with for each individual player. Overall, we are ready to defend and take our title at the MAC tournament in Oxford this coming weekend."
The first round of the Mid-American Conference tournament begins Friday in Oxford at the Hepburn Varsity Tennis Courts.
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