University at Buffalo
Northern Illinois
Bulls Earn Spot In MAC Tournament With 4-3 Victory Over NIU
4/18/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
AKRON, OH – The University at Buffalo, State University of New York women's tennis team edged Northern Illinois, 4-3, Saturday afternoon at Akron to clinch a spot in the Mid-American Conference Tournament to be held April 24-26 at Miami (OH).
The Bulls (7-10, 3-4 MAC) claimed the doubles point, before splitting singles play with the Huskies (11-9, 2-6 MAC). Knotted at 3-3, the match was decided at fifth singles by sophomore Laura Holterbosch's three-set, come-from-behind victory against Evelyn Youel, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.
"Both teams fought hard today, but we had more belief that we could win no matter what," stated head coach Kristen Ortman Maines. "I give these ladies a lot of credit, their backs were against the wall and they battled hard. I'm very proud of what they did today!"
Sophomore Margarita Kotok and junior Dayana Agasieva picked up a dominating 6-2 first-doubles win to open the match. Senior Laura Fernandez and freshman Christine Haraldson added a 6-3 victory at three in turn calling the second match with freshman Tanja Stojanovska and Holterbosch leading, 5-3.
Kotok added a 6-3, 6-2 second-singles win over Cristina Alvarez and Agasieva took Arantza De La Torre, 7-5, 6-4, at four. The Bulls went three in their trio of losses. Stojanovska was edged by Nelle Youel at first singles, 7-5, 4-6, 6-2, Fernandez narrowly fell to Mary Malkin at three, 6-2, 0-6, 7-5, and Haraldson was outlasted at the sixth position by Abigail Dekkinga, 7-5, 1-6, 6-4.
The Bulls will next compete on day one of the 2015 MAC Tournament on Friday, April 24.
DOUBLES
No. 1: Kotok/Agasieva (UB) def. N. Youel/De La Torre (NIU), 6-2
No. 2: Stojanovska/Holterbosch (UB) vs. Alvarez/Dekkinga (NIU), 5-3 DNF
No. 3: Fernandez/Haraldson (UB) def. Malkin/E. Youel (NIU), 6-3
SINGLES
No. 1: Nelle Youel (NIU) def. Tanja Stojanovska (UB), 7-5, 4-6, 6-2
No. 2: Margarita Kotok (UB) def. Cristina Alvarez (NIU), 6-3, 6-2
No. 3: Mary Malkin (NIU) def. Laura Fernandez (UB), 6-2, 0-6, 7-5
No. 4: Dayana Agasieva (UB) def. Arantza De La Torre (NIU), 7-5, 6-4
No. 5: Laura Holterbosch (UB) def. Evelyn Youel (NIU), 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
No. 6: Abigail Dekkinga (NIU) def. Christine Haraldson (UB), 7-5, 1-6, 6-4
