Junior Kokoro Chishaki and the Rockets are set to compete against Ball State in first-round action at the 2018 MAC Tournament.
Photo by: Will Edmonds
Toledo Set to Play No. 6 Seed Ball State at MAC Championships
4/26/2018 12:00:00 PM | Women's Tennis
Toledo, Ohio - Toledo (15-6, 5-3 MAC) will face No. 6 seed and tournament host Ball State (11-10, 3-5 MAC) in first-round action at the 2018 Mid-American Conference Women's Tennis Championship at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, April 27 in Muncie, Ind.
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"It feels great heading into this tournament this year," head coach Tracy Mauntler said. "I'm proud of the work that these players have put in since last season. I think it is all about confidence this time of year and I feel like we playing very good tennis.
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"We had great focus against Ball State during the regular season and we'll continue to have that as our number-one goal," Mauntler added. "We aren't going to change anything that we've been doing for the past six weeks. We're going to take it one match at a time."
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The Midnight Blue and Gold enter the MAC tournament having reached a number of milestones this season. The Rockets went on a month-long six-match winning streak (Jan. 28-Feb. 23), saw senior Sidnay Huck and junior Kokoro Chishaki earn back-to-back doubles team of the week awards, and feature the conference's only undefeated doubles team in senior Colleen O'Brien and sophomore Dee Dee Leenabanchong (16-straight matches).
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Toledo also witnessed a breakout year from Chishaki. Playing primarily in the No. 4 singles spot, Chishaki had a five-match winning streak and swept her opponent in two sets on 10 separate occasions, finishing with a team-best 15-5 singles record.
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Last time in the tournament
Toledo's last visit to the MAC tournament was during the 2015-16 season when the Rockets fell to Western Michigan, 4-2, in the first round. UT's points came from Huck and sophomore Megan Miller during singles competition. Huck went 6-4, 6-2 in No. 1 to give earn Toledo's first point of the match. Miller battled through a next-and-neck tiebreak in No. 4, winning 6-3, 7-6 (15-13) before the Broncos clinched the match.
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Scouting Ball State
The Cardinals enter the tournament coming off a 5-2 win over Akron. BSU lost, 5-2, against Toledo during the regular season, with the team's points coming at singles from No. 5 Rebecca Herrington and No. 6 Victoria Sec.
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Ball State's biggest threats are Isabelle Dohanics and Herrington. Dohanics reps a 13-8 (4-3 MAC) singles record and is 5-5 in her last 10. In doubles, she holds a combined 11-8 (3-4 MAC) record and primarily plays in the No. 1 and 3 spots. Herrington is 13-7 (4-3 MAC) in singles and is 7-3 in her last 10. She holds a 13-6 (4-2 MAC) doubles team record and primarily plays in the No. 1 and 2 spots.
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With a win…
A win over the Cardinals would set Toledo up to play No. 2 Miami at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday in the semifinals.
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"It feels great heading into this tournament this year," head coach Tracy Mauntler said. "I'm proud of the work that these players have put in since last season. I think it is all about confidence this time of year and I feel like we playing very good tennis.
Â
"We had great focus against Ball State during the regular season and we'll continue to have that as our number-one goal," Mauntler added. "We aren't going to change anything that we've been doing for the past six weeks. We're going to take it one match at a time."
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The Midnight Blue and Gold enter the MAC tournament having reached a number of milestones this season. The Rockets went on a month-long six-match winning streak (Jan. 28-Feb. 23), saw senior Sidnay Huck and junior Kokoro Chishaki earn back-to-back doubles team of the week awards, and feature the conference's only undefeated doubles team in senior Colleen O'Brien and sophomore Dee Dee Leenabanchong (16-straight matches).
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Toledo also witnessed a breakout year from Chishaki. Playing primarily in the No. 4 singles spot, Chishaki had a five-match winning streak and swept her opponent in two sets on 10 separate occasions, finishing with a team-best 15-5 singles record.
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Last time in the tournament
Toledo's last visit to the MAC tournament was during the 2015-16 season when the Rockets fell to Western Michigan, 4-2, in the first round. UT's points came from Huck and sophomore Megan Miller during singles competition. Huck went 6-4, 6-2 in No. 1 to give earn Toledo's first point of the match. Miller battled through a next-and-neck tiebreak in No. 4, winning 6-3, 7-6 (15-13) before the Broncos clinched the match.
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Scouting Ball State
The Cardinals enter the tournament coming off a 5-2 win over Akron. BSU lost, 5-2, against Toledo during the regular season, with the team's points coming at singles from No. 5 Rebecca Herrington and No. 6 Victoria Sec.
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Ball State's biggest threats are Isabelle Dohanics and Herrington. Dohanics reps a 13-8 (4-3 MAC) singles record and is 5-5 in her last 10. In doubles, she holds a combined 11-8 (3-4 MAC) record and primarily plays in the No. 1 and 3 spots. Herrington is 13-7 (4-3 MAC) in singles and is 7-3 in her last 10. She holds a 13-6 (4-2 MAC) doubles team record and primarily plays in the No. 1 and 2 spots.
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With a win…
A win over the Cardinals would set Toledo up to play No. 2 Miami at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday in the semifinals.
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Players Mentioned
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