Tennis Opens MAC Play with 6-1 Win At Northern Illinois

Friday, March 23

DeKalb, IL

1:00PM

Bowling Green State University

Northern Illinois University

March 23, 2018 | Women's Tennis

By: Jenna Jorgensen (Assistant Director of Athletic Communications)

ROCKFORD, Ill. – The Bowling Green tennis program (9-5, 1-0 MAC) opened Mid-American Conference play on Friday afternoon when it faced Northern Illinois (5-10, 0-1 MAC) on the road. The Falcons earned its third straight victory with a 6-1 win over the Huskies by two doubles and five singles wins on the day.

BGSU Results vs. NIU
March 23, 2018 – Boylan Tennis Center – Rockford, Ill.

SINGLES
1 – Paula Comella (BGSU) def. Thisuri Molligoda (NIU) 6-1, 6-4
2 – Polina Radeva (BGSU) def. Maria Potsi (NIU) 6-3, 6-0
3 – Marharita-Sophia Tavpash (BGSU) def. Abigail Dekkinga (NIU) 6-1, 6-0
4 – Ayumi Sasaki (BGSU) def. Evelyn Youel (NIU) 6-3, 6-0
5 – Brodie Walker (NIU) def. Vanesa Pardo (BGSU) 5-7, 6-3, 10-8
6 – Marta Bettinelli (BGSU) def. Lara Slisko (NIU) 6-4, 4-6, 10-4

DOUBLES
1 – Comella / Tavpash (BGSU) def. Molligoda / Dekkinga (NIU) 6-2
2 – Radeva / Sasaki (BGSU) def. Potsi / Slisko (NIU) 6-2
3 – Youel / Walker (NIU) def. Pardo / Bettinelli (BGSU) 6-2

Statistical Standouts

Bowling Green is now on a three-match win streak with the victory over NIU and 1-0 record in MAC play as they opened conference competition.
Improving to an 11-2 record on the season, junior Paula Comella was one of four Falcons who downed her opponent in straight sets by scores of 6-1, 6-4. A native of Ciutadella de Menorca, Spain, Comella also earned a second victory on the day when she teamed up with sophomore Marharita-Sophia Tavpash and the duo earned a 6-2 win at No. 1 doubles.
Tavpash also earned two wins when she earned straight set victories at No. 3 singles. A native of Lviv, Ukraine, Tavpash only allowed one game to her opponent in the first set final of 6-1, before shutting out the Husky in a 6-0 second set victory.
By earning straight set wins of 6-3, 6-0, junior Polina Radeva improved her record to an 8-5 mark on the season. Radeva also earned a second win on the day when she teamed up with partner Ayumi Sasaki at No. 2 doubles and sealed the doubles point for the Orange and Brown by a 6-2 victory.
One of three Falcons to shutout an opponent in the second set, sophomore Sasaki also earned straight set wins of 6-3, 6-0 against Northern Illinois for an improved record of 7-6 on the year.
Battling to win a point for the Falcons was freshman Marta Bettinelli, as she fought through a tiebreaker against her opponent. After earning the opening set win of 6-4, the Milan, Italy native narrowly dropped the second set 4-6. Bettinelli then rebounded and sealed the win with a dominate 10-4 final to pick up the point.
Individually, Comella, Radeva and Tavpash are all on three-match win streaks in singles play, while in doubles, the pairing of Radeva / Sasaki has also earned three straight victories. Additionally, Bettinelli has begun a win streak as she has won her last two matches at No. 6 singles.

Coach Dalmacio's Take

"This was a great way to start conference play and to keep setting the tone for the matches ahead of us! Everyone battled very hard and got better as the matches went on. Can't wait for Sunday when we come back to play at home."

Up Next

The Bowling Green tennis program will look to extend its three-match win streak this weekend as it hosts Ball State on Sunday, March 25 in a 1 p.m. first serve. The Falcons will also look to defend its undefeated home record of 5-0 against the Cardinals.

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.