Youngstown, Ohio - Toledo (8-5) claimed a decisive 6-1 victory over Youngstown State on Saturday afternoon in its final non-conference match of the season. The win marks the Rockets' fifth straight and eighth-consecutive over YSU.
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"This was another gutsy performance," said head coach
Tracy Mauntler. "We have been doing such a good job grinding out close matches. It is so important to be able to figure out a way to win when you're not playing your best."
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UT jumped out in front with two victories in doubles play that clinched the point for the Rockets. Senior
Sidnay Huck and freshman
Dee Dee Leenabanchong took their usual post at No. 1 doubles and bested their opponents, 6-3. Sophomores
Claire Aleck and
Rani Goodland also recorded a 6-3 victory at third doubles.
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Toledo's momentum carried over into the singles competition where the Rockets posted five wins to seal in Saturday's victory.
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Both Huck and Leenabanchong battled back from first set losses to win their matches. Huck initially fell, 6-2, but closed out her last two sets, 6-2, 6-4, at first singles. Leenabanchong dropped a close 7-6 (6) battle in the opening frame but tied it up with a 6-4 win in Set 2. The freshman secured her match at No. 4 singles with a 10-5 third-set tiebreaker.
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Freshman
Mimi Kendall-Woseley jumped ahead of YSU in Set 1, 6-1, of third singles. The Penguins'Â Imaan Hassim evened the score by besting Kendall-Woseley, 6-4, in the second set. Kendall-Woseley found her momentum once more to answer back with a 6-4 win in the final frame.
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Junior
Megan Miller and Aleck won straight-set victories at the No. 5 and No. 6 spots, respectively. Miller downed her competition, 6-4, 7-5, while Aleck posted a 7-5, 6-1 win over her YSU opponent.
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The Rockets will open their Mid-American Conference season next weekend when they host Akron at Shadow Valley Tennis Club on Friday, March 24 in a 1:00 p.m. contest.
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Doubles Competition
- Sidnay Huck/DeeDee Leenabanchong (UT) def. Nsimba/Shrop (YSU) 6-3
- Megan Miller/Mimi Kendall-Woseley (UT) def. Macias/Hassim (YSU) 6-3
- Claire Aleck/Rani Goodland (UT) def. Moralega/Sahni (YSU) 6-3
Singles Competition
- Sidnay Huck (UT) def. Nsimba (YSU) 2-6, 6-2, 6-4
- Macias (YSU) 6-3, 7-5 def. Colleen O'Brien (UT) 6-3, 7-5
- Mimi Kendall-Woseley (UT) def. Hassim (YSU) 6-1, 4-6, 6-4
- Dee Dee Leenabanchong (UT) def. Sahni (YSU) 6-7 (6), 6-4, 10-5
- Megan Miller (UT) def. Shrop (YSU) 6-4, 7-5
- Claire Aleck (UT) def. Moraleja (YSU) 7-5, 6-1
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