University of Toledo
EASTERN MICHIGAN
Azoulay Lifts Rockets Past Eagles, 4-3
4/17/2010 9:00:00 PM | Women's Tennis
TOLEDO, OH - Jessica Azoulay hadn't played in a singles match since March 19, but the senior stepped up and delivered the decisive point as the Toledo women's tennis team downed Eastern Michigan, 4-3, Saturday at the chilly UT Varsity Courts.
Azoulay, inserted into the lineup at the No. 6 position, was the last match on the court with the score knotted at three. She rallied after dropping the first set to take a 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 victory and lift the Rockets to 11-5 on the season, 4-2 in the MAC.
"Jessica had really struggled for awhile, but I felt she deserved a chance to play," Tracy Mauntler, head coach, said. "She'd really been challenging the other girls in practice. The best part was that she didn't have a lot of confidence in her shots in the past, but she was able to put balls away today and that made the difference."
The Rockets needed to take four singles wins after dropping the doubles point, and the top half of the lineup delivered. Martina Wodzinski scored a 6-1, 6-2 victory at No. 1 singles, and Maha Guirguis earned a 6-1, 6-3 decision at No. 2. Ashley Frey led her match, 5-3, in the first set when her opponent retired.
"Those top three battle week in and week out, and it really sets the tone for our entire singles lineup," Mauntler said.
After losses at fourth and fifth singles, the stage was set for Azoulay's dramatics, and the senior delivered.
UT remains at home for its final two regular season matches. The Rockets host Ball State at 1 p.m. on Friday and take on Miami at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
"All of the teams in the conference are so close to one another, it's so competitive," Mauntler said. "We knew Eastern Michigan was dangerous and it showed. Now we need to gear back up for a big final weekend."
Toledo 4, EMU 3
Doubles
Westernik/Donnet (EMU) def. Guirguis/Wodzinski (UT), 8-6
Frey/Zoubareva (UT) def. de'Lisle-Tarr/Chang (EMU), 9-8 (2)
Ahuja/Rivero def. Carvajal/Reynolds (UT), 9-7
Singles
Wodzinski (UT) def. Westernik (EMU), 6-1, 6-2
Guirguis (UT) def. Chang (EMU), 6-1, 6-3
Frey (UT) def. Ahuja (EMU), 5-3 (ret.)
de'Lisle-Tarr (EMU) def. Zoubareva (UT), 6-1, 6-1
Rivero (EMU) def. Washington (UT), 6-1, 6-4
Azoulay (UT) def. Donnet (EMU), 3-6, 6-1, 6-2
Contact: Scott Miles
scott.miles@utoledo.edu
Players Mentioned
