Women's Tennis Loses Close 4-3 MAC Match At Miami

Sunday, April 19

Oxford, Ohio

1:00 PM

Ball State University

Miami University

Women's Tennis Ends Competition At UC Invite

April 19, 2015 | Women's Tennis

Box Score

By: Ball State Athletics

OXFORD, Ohio - The Ball State women's tennis team (15-4, 4-3 MAC) lost a close 4-3 battle at Miami (14-6, 8-0 MAC) in its last Mid-American Conference match of the season.

"You couldn't ask for more from our team," Ball State head women's tennis coach Max Norris said. "Toni Ormond and Ashlyn Rang came out focused and physical and that was impressive to me. We will be ready on Friday and we are coming to the tournament with something to prove. Go cards!"

Ball State trailed Miami early, after losing the doubles point to the RedHawks. Rosalinda Calderon along with doubles partner Courtney Earnest suffered their first loss of the season on the top court, after falling 6-3 to Christine Guerrazzi and Nelli Ponomareva. Toni Ormond and Ashlyn Rang would then even the doubles score 1-1 with their 6-2 victory over Andreea Badileanu and Ramona Costea on court three. Bethany Moore and Courtney Wild would then fall 6-4 at the No. 2 spot to give the RedHawks their first point of the match.

In singles action on court two, Earnest made it a 1-1 match for Ball State after taking down Badileanu in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2. With the win, Earnest improved to 22-4 on the season and 7-0 in MAC play. Miami's Hannah Shteyn gave Miami back their lead after posting a 6-3, 6-2 win over Moore on court five. Ashlyn Rang along with teammate Ormond put the Cardinals up 3-2 after defeating their respective opponents in straight sets.

After that, Costea captured a 6-3, 6-4 victory for the RedHawks at the No. 6 singles position over Ball State's Olivia Large. With the match knotted at 3-3 it would come down to the top court for the victory. Wild took the first set from Alix Thurman 6-3 but would drop the next two 6-4, resulting in the loss for the Cardinals.

The Ball State women's tennis team will return to Oxford, Ohio, for the 2015 Mid-American Conference Tournament beginning Friday with first round matches. The MAC Tournament will continue throughout the weekend with the semifinals Saturday and finals Sunday.

Miami def. Ball State, 4-3

SINGLES

1. Alix Thurman (MU) def. Courtney Wild (BSU), 3-6, 6-4, 6-4

2. Courtney Earnest (BSU) def. Andreea Badileanu (MU), 6-2, 6-2

3. Toni Ormond (BSU) def. Christine Guerrazzi (MU), 6-4, 6-1

4. Ashlyn Rang (BSU) def. Nelli Ponomareva (MU), 6-2, 6-2

5. Hannah Shteyn (MU) def. Bethany Moore (BSU), 6-3, 6-2

6. Ramona Costea (MU) def. Olivia Large (BSU), 6-3, 6-4

Order of finish: 2, 5, 4, 3, 6, 1

DOUBLES

1. Christine Guerrazzi/Nelli Ponomareva (MU) def. Rosalinda Calderon/Courtney Earnest (BSU), 6-3

2. Hannah Shteyn/Alix Thurman (MU) def. Bethany Moore/Courtney Wild (BSU), 6-4