KALAMAZOO, Mich. — The Western Michigan women’s tennis team picked up its first Mid-American Conference win after beating rival Eastern Michigan in a 4-3 thriller at West Hills Athletic Club on Friday afternoon.
Match point came down to the battle between WMU’s Christine Gouws and EMU’s Daniella Shved at No. 3 singles. The each set in the match had to be settled via a tie-breaker. Gouws took the first set 7-6 (7-3), but Svhed battled back to win the second set 7-6 (7-3). Gouws jumped out to an early lead in the final set but Shved overcame the lead and went up 6-5. Gouws battled back to tie it up at 6-6 to force the final tie-breaker. Shved held the early advantage and went up 4-2, but Gouws was able to tie it up. The two then split points until it was 6-6, with Gouws winning the final two to seal the match victory for the Broncos (10-7, 1-1 MAC).
Western Michigan started off strong by earning the doubles point. Senior Polina Khotko and freshman Frida Weijerman gave the Broncos the early advantage with a 6-2 win over Shved and Lara Diaz Zayas at No. 3. Gouws and freshman Marlielou Baudouin wrapped up the point with a 6-4 win over Marta Komar and Viki Hazmukova at No. 2.
After doubles, junior Julia Frazier gave Western Michigan a 2-0 lead after a 6-1, 6-4 win at No. 6 over Diaz Zayas. EMU’s Prerna Vichare cut the lead in half after a 6-4, 6-3 win over Weijerman at No. 3. The Eagles tied up the match at 2-2 when Komar defeated Audrey Smitek 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 at No. 5. The Broncos took a 3-2 lead on a win by Baudouin over Kseniia Saenko 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 at No. 4 before Eastern Michigan’s Hazmukova defeated Lola Glantz at No. 1 2-6, 7-5, 7-5 to tie it up at 3-3.
Western Michigan is back at it on Sunday, hosting Northern Illinois at 12 p.m. at West Hills Athletic Club. Admission is free.
