Women’s Tennis: The Mountaineers Fall to Akron
February 05, 2012 05:39 PM | General
MORGANTOWN, W. Va.– The West Virginia University women’s tennis team was defeated by Akron, 7-0, Sunday afternoon at the Ridgeview Racquet Club.
The Mountaineers, who played one player short against the Zips, lost the doubles point after junior Emily Mathis and sophomore Mary Chupa lost to their opponents, 9-7.
The duo of senior Veronica Cardenas and freshmen Ikttesh Chahal scored the lone victory in doubles for WVU, as they defeated Angelika and Angelina Jogasuria, 8-7 (8-1).
In singles action, Chupa battled, but lost to Olga Shkundina, one of Akron’s top players, 6-1, 6-2.
“Mary’s game fed into Shkundina’s game; she likes a flat ball and that’s what Mary hits,” said coach Tina Samara. “Mary fought hard, and her game was great. She arguably played the best player on the Zips’ team.”
In the No. 1 singles match, Mathis was able to keep the score close throughout, but lost to the Zips’ Zara Harutyunyan in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3.
In the No. 4 singles match, Cardenas was also able to hold her ground in a strong competition but was defeated in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1.
Chahal, who rallied to keep the score close in her first set against Akron’s Prang Pantusart, fell short and lost the match 6-4, 6-0.
“I think we did a better job coming out ready to play,” said Samara. “Coming out onto the court slow has been an issue we’ve had, but today it wasn’t.”
Senior Catie Wickline played two tightly contested sets in the No. 5 singles match against Angelika Jogasuria. In the first set, Wickline fell 7-5, and in the second set, she was defeated 6-4.
“A theme that we touched on after the match is that we acknowledge we are in a tough situation, and we’ve all been putting the wrong kind of pressures on each other and ourselves,” Samara said. “Starting Tuesday, we’ll be playing more games at practice and music so everyone can relax. I think it will help us start communicating better, and allow us to take a deep breath and have fun. Only good things can turn out of it, and we will be able to start playing like we are capable of on the court.”
The Mountaineers will compete again on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 1 p.m., as they welcome George Washington to Morgantown.
RESULTS
Singles
No. 1 Zara Harutyunyan (UA) def. Emily Mathis (WVU), 6-2, 6-3
No. 2 Olga Shkundina (UA) def. Mary Chupa (WVU), 6-2, 6-1
No. 3 Prang Pantusart (UA) def. Ikttesh Chahal (WVU), 6-4, 6-0
No. 4 Ksenia Berestetska(UA) def. Veronica Cardenas (WVU), 6-4, 6-1
No 5. Angelika Jogasuria (UA) def. Catie Wickline (WVU), 7-5, 6-4
No. 6: Akron def. WVU, default
Doubles
No. 1 Harutyunyan/Pantusart def. Emily Mathis/Mary Chupa (WVU), 9-7
No. 2 Veronica Cardenas/Ikttesh Chahal (WVU) def. Jogasuria/Jogasuria (UA), 8-7 (8-1)
No. 3 Akron def. WVU, default
The Mountaineers, who played one player short against the Zips, lost the doubles point after junior Emily Mathis and sophomore Mary Chupa lost to their opponents, 9-7.
The duo of senior Veronica Cardenas and freshmen Ikttesh Chahal scored the lone victory in doubles for WVU, as they defeated Angelika and Angelina Jogasuria, 8-7 (8-1).
In singles action, Chupa battled, but lost to Olga Shkundina, one of Akron’s top players, 6-1, 6-2.
“Mary’s game fed into Shkundina’s game; she likes a flat ball and that’s what Mary hits,” said coach Tina Samara. “Mary fought hard, and her game was great. She arguably played the best player on the Zips’ team.”
In the No. 1 singles match, Mathis was able to keep the score close throughout, but lost to the Zips’ Zara Harutyunyan in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3.
In the No. 4 singles match, Cardenas was also able to hold her ground in a strong competition but was defeated in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1.
Chahal, who rallied to keep the score close in her first set against Akron’s Prang Pantusart, fell short and lost the match 6-4, 6-0.
“I think we did a better job coming out ready to play,” said Samara. “Coming out onto the court slow has been an issue we’ve had, but today it wasn’t.”
Senior Catie Wickline played two tightly contested sets in the No. 5 singles match against Angelika Jogasuria. In the first set, Wickline fell 7-5, and in the second set, she was defeated 6-4.
“A theme that we touched on after the match is that we acknowledge we are in a tough situation, and we’ve all been putting the wrong kind of pressures on each other and ourselves,” Samara said. “Starting Tuesday, we’ll be playing more games at practice and music so everyone can relax. I think it will help us start communicating better, and allow us to take a deep breath and have fun. Only good things can turn out of it, and we will be able to start playing like we are capable of on the court.”
The Mountaineers will compete again on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 1 p.m., as they welcome George Washington to Morgantown.
RESULTS
Singles
No. 1 Zara Harutyunyan (UA) def. Emily Mathis (WVU), 6-2, 6-3
No. 2 Olga Shkundina (UA) def. Mary Chupa (WVU), 6-2, 6-1
No. 3 Prang Pantusart (UA) def. Ikttesh Chahal (WVU), 6-4, 6-0
No. 4 Ksenia Berestetska(UA) def. Veronica Cardenas (WVU), 6-4, 6-1
No 5. Angelika Jogasuria (UA) def. Catie Wickline (WVU), 7-5, 6-4
No. 6: Akron def. WVU, default
Doubles
No. 1 Harutyunyan/Pantusart def. Emily Mathis/Mary Chupa (WVU), 9-7
No. 2 Veronica Cardenas/Ikttesh Chahal (WVU) def. Jogasuria/Jogasuria (UA), 8-7 (8-1)
No. 3 Akron def. WVU, default
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