Toledo, Ohio - The Toledo women's tennis team defeated Mid-American Conference defending champion Buffalo, 4-3, at Twos Athletic Club in Toledo on Friday. The match featured three-set thrillers from seniors Kokoro Chishaki and Thalita Rodrigues and freshman Christina Fuller. 
 
"I'm so incredibly proud of this team," said head coach Tracy Mauntler. "They've fought so hard all year long and they deserve this win so much. Kokoro and Thalita stepped up big time for us in singles and then Christina played like a senior instead of a freshman down the stretch." 
 
The Rockets came out early, clinching the doubles point with 6-3 wins from junior Dee Dee Leenabanchong/Chishaki and Rodrigues/freshman Kiersten Carlson on the No. 1 and No. 2 courts. 
 
The Rockets fought their way through singles play, notching their remaining three points after gritty three-set battles on the No. 3, No. 4, and No. 5 courts. 
 
Chishaki was the first to emerge victorious, after falling to Nikoleta Antoniou-Karademitrou 3-6 in the first set and bouncing back to take the second and third 6-4, 6-3. Rodrigues won her first set 6-3 against Emel Abibula before falling 3-6 in the second and rising to take the third 6-3, on the No. 5 court. On the No. 4 court Fuller fell 3-6 to Hsin-Yuan Shih. Down 1-4 in the second set, Fuller fought for a five-point comeback to take the second 6-4 and force a third set. The third set saw Fuller once again down 1-4 before battling back to take the set 7-6 (7-5) and ultimately clinch the match. 
 
Up Next
The Rockets will find out who they play in the Mid-American Conference Tournament on Sunday after the conclusion of Sunday's Bowling Green vs. Western Michigan match. 
 
Toledo 4, Buffalo 3
 
Doubles
1. Dee Dee Leenabanchong/Kokoro Chishaki (UT) def. C. Martinez Blanco/N. Antoniou-Karademi (UB) 6-3
2. Thalita Rodrigues/Kiersten Carlson (UT) def. Emel Abibula/A. Paules Aldrey (UB) 6-3
3. Pia Schwarz/M. Losada Rubio (UB) def. Claire Aleck/Eileen Carney (UT) 5-3
 
Singles
1. C. Martinez Blanco (UB) def. Dee Dee Leenabanchong (UT) 6-1, 6-1
2. Pia Schwarz (UB) def. Eileen Carney (UT) 6-2, 6-0
3. Kokoro Chishaki (UT) def. N. Antoniou-Karademi (UB) 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
4. Christina Fuller (UT) def. Hsin-Yuan Shih (UB) 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5)
5. Thalita Rodrigues (UT) def. Emel Abibula (UB) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
6. Sanjana Sudhir (UB) def. Claire Aleck (UT) 6-4, 6-2


Highlights from Toledo's win over Buffalo.