MUNCIE, Ind. – The Toledo women's tennis team's run for the Mid-American Conference Tournament title came to an end Sunday afternoon, falling to No. 2 seed Ball State 4-1 in the title match.
Toledo (20-4), the regular season MAC champion and No. 1 seed in the tournament, ends its season with a program-record of 20 wins.
"It's hard to put into words how I feel about this team," head coach
Tracy Mauntler said. "There are no other eight women that I trust more or would want to go into battle with than these eight. They are the hardest working, most competitive team I've ever had. Today, we didn't have our best to start and tried everything to dig our way out but just couldn't. Sports can be brutal and today was an example of that."
"Today doesn't take anything away from everything we've accomplished this year," Mauntler added. "It was an epic year with the program's first regular-season MAC Championship, an undefeated MAC record, and the most wins in a regular season. We will be back stronger next year."
The Rockets fell behind early, as Ball State took a 1-0 lead  after capturing the doubles team point with victories at the No. 3 and No. 1 courts.
Inclement weather interrupted the match during singles play. All singles matches were wrapping up their first set or starting their second sets when both teams and all spectators had to pick up and move to an indoor venue because of rain.
Sloane Teske tied the match 1-1 with a 7-5, 6-2 victory from the No. 2 spot. The Cardinals took back the lead with their 6-2, 6-2 win from the top court, and got withing one point to clinch the match with another two-set decision from the No. 6 court.
The match was clinched for the Cardinals at the No. 5 court. After losing the first set, 6-1, Sanjana Talamraju rallied to win the second set on a 7-6(2) final. But her opponent took the third set 6-1 to give Ball State the 4-1 victory and clinch the Cardinals their second consecutive tournament victory and an automatic bid into the NCAA Championship Tournament.
No. 3 singles
Shalini Tallamraju and No. 4 singles
Mariona Perez were ahead in their third sets when the match ended.
At the conclusion of the match, Perez and
Shalini Tallamraju were named to the MAC All-Tournament Team. Perez compiled a 17-4 record this season, mostly from the No. 4 court, while Tallamraju, now a two-time All-Tournament honoree, had a team-best 20-3 record, mostly from the No. 3 court.
MAC Tournament Championship Finals
Ball State 4, Toledo 1
Doubles
1. Annika Planinsek/ Amy Kaplan (BSU) 6-3
2.
Julia Kuszynski/
Sanjana Tallamraju (TOL) 3-4, unfinished
3. Jessica Braun/ Emily Desai (BSU) 6-1
Singles
1. Mariya Polishchuk (BSU) 6-3, 6-3
2.
Sloane Teske (TOL) 7-5, 6-2
3.
Shalini Tallamraju (TOL) 0-6, 7-6(6), 4-1 unfinished
4.
Mariona Perez (TOL) 6-2, 2-6, 5-3 unfinished
5. Annika Planinsek (BSU) 6-1, (2)6-7, 6-1
6. Elena Malyha (BSU) 6-2, 6-2
MAC Most-Valuable Player: Mariya Polishchuk, BSU
MAC All-Tournament Team
Catherine Denysiewkz, Miami
Deniz Comlek, Buffalo
Shalini Tallamraju, Toledo
Mariona Perez, Toledo
Annika Plainisek, BSU
Mariya Polishchuk, BSU
