Tennis Remains Undefeated at Home with 5-2 Victory Over UIC

Friday, March 16

Perrysburg, OH

1:00PM

Bowling Green State University

University of Illinois - Chicago

March 16, 2018 | Women's Tennis

By: Jenna Jorgensen (Assistant Director of Athletic Communications)

PERRYSBURG, Ohio – The Bowling Green tennis program (7-5) remains undefeated at home this season as it was able to down UIC (5-4) in a 5-2 final on Friday afternoon at the Perrysburg Tennis Center. The Falcons earned four singles and two doubles victories on the day, for its 4-0 record at home.

Results BGSU vs. UIC
March 16, 2018 – Perrysburg Tennis Center – Perrysburg, Ohio

SINGLES
1 – Paula Comella (BGSU) def. Georgie Sanders (UIC) 6-1, 6-3
2 – Polina Radeva (BGSU) def. Lejla Colic (UIC) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
3 – Marharita-Sophia Tavpash (BGSU) def. Amelia Guervremont (UIC) 6-3, 6-3
4 – Ayumi Sasaki (BGSU) def. Melika LeBlanc (UIC) 6-3, 6-2
5 – Rachel Le Comber (UIC) def. Marta Bettinelli (BGSU) 6-0, 3-6, 6-0
6 – Stefana Vasic (UIC) def. Vanesa Pardo (BGSU) 6-7 (5), 6-1, 10-7

DOUBLES
1 – Comella / Tavpash (BGSU) def. Sanders / Colic (UIC) 6-4
2 – Radeva / Sasaki (BGSU) def. LeBlanc / Le Comber (UIC) 6-2
3 – Seifert / Vasic (UIC) def. Pardo / Bettinelli (BGSU) 6-1

Statistical Standouts

The Falcons got off to a strong start as it earned the doubles point with a pair of victories on courts one and two. The pairing of junior Paula Comella and sophomore Marharita-Sophia Tavpash improved its record on the season to 8-3 when it downed its opponent in UIC by a 6-4 score. The duo came back from being down 0-1, tied the game at 1-1, before leading the remainder of the match.
Battling their way through the No. 2 doubles match was junior Polina Radeva and sophomore Ayumi Sasaki. The pair opened with a game win to go up 1-0, but found themselves tied at 1-1. The pairing prevailed by regaining the lead at 2-1, and led the rest of its way to a 6-2 victory. On the season, Radeva and Sasaki hold a 7-4 record against their opponents.
At No. 1 singles, Comella led outright for her 6-1, 6-3 wins against her opponent. On the season, the Ciutadella de Menorca, Spain native holds an improved 9-2 record in singles play.
After dropping the first set, Radeva was able to rebound with a dominant second set win of 6-3. Radeva then found herself down 1-0 to open the back-and-forth third set and the Varna, Bulgaria native was able to persist for a 6-4 victory after regaining the lead at 3-2 to earn another point for the Falcons and a 6-5 record on the season.
Also a rebound, Tavpash was able to come back from being down 1-0 in both of her sets, leading to an eventual straight set victory of 6-3, 6-3. The sophomore's point was Bowling Green's fourth of the day, sealing the victory over UIC.
After earning a doubles win with her partner earlier in the day, sophomore Sasaki was able to also earn a singles win when she downed her opponent 6-3, 6-2. After starting down 1-0 in the first set and regaining the lead at 3-2, Sasaki led outright through the remainder of the first and second sets for her sixth singles victory of the season.
Despite forcing third sets against their opponents, freshman Marta Bettinelli and junior Vanesa Pardo narrowly fell to UIC at the No. 5 and No. 6 singles spots.
Overall, Bowling Green is now 4-0 at home this season at the Perrysburg Tennis Center.

Coach Dalmacio's Take

"We played really smart tennis today against UIC. We faced a very strong team in UIC and the team knew it was going to be challenging and had to take pride in playing at home."
"It's always important to get the doubles point. It's always a different energy when you win the doubles point and head into singles. It definitely helps energy-wise and with the team's confidence."
"The crowd here at home was great. It is always nice and helps out the energy when you're pushed forward by the crowd at home. I think the players were very excited to be back after so long away, and we want to stay undefeated at home so that's a big motivation as well."

Up Next

The Bowling Green tennis program will now have a quick turnaround before they host Wright State tomorrow in a 5:30 p.m. first serve. The event will be free to attend at the Perrysburg Tennis Center and will mark the final non-conference matchup of the season.

Follow the Falcons

For the most up-to-date information on the Bowling Green tennis program, follow the Falcons on Twitter at @BGSUTennis and @BGAthletics, as well as on the web right here at BGSUFalcons.com.