Toledo Upset by Eastern Michigan, 4-3

Sunday, April 14

Ypsilanti, Mich.

1:00 p.m.

University of Toledo

Eastern Michigan

Sophomore Audrey Moutama won her ninth-straight match to tie the Rockets and Eagles at 3-3 on Sunday afternoon.

Photo by: Katie Manger

4/14/2024 7:15:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score

Rockets’ 18-match conference winning streak snapped on Sunday

YPSILANTI, Mich. – The Toledo women's tennis team suffered its first Mid-American Conference loss in a hard-fought 4-3 final to Eastern Michigan on Sunday afternoon. The upset snaps the Rockets' (14-5, 7-1 MAC) 18-match winning streak in league play dating back to April of 2022.

"All credit to EMU as they played us really tough," head coach Tracy Mauntler said. "Honestly, this may be a blessing for our team heading into the final stretch of the regular season and into the MAC Tournament. We have a huge target on our backs every time we step on the court, and EMU really brought it today. I have a ton of confidence in my squad and I know they will bounce back with more focus than ever."

With the match tied at 3-3, freshman Gaby Rondon forced Linda Eloundou to a third set at the No. 5 court to keep the Rockets' undefeated season alive. Rondon fell in the opener 6-2, took the second set, 7-6(4), but was defeated in the tiebreaker, 7-6(5) to end the match.

Eastern Michigan (10-10, 4-4 MAC) held a 2-0 match lead after winning the doubles point and claiming the No. 2 court. Senior Shalini Tallamraju put Toledo on the board with her two-set win at the No. 3 flight, and senior Julia Kuszynski evened the score with her two-setter at the bottom court. Daniella Shved took senior Cassie Alcala to three sets to win the top court to put the Eagles at match point. Sophomore Audrey Moutama lost her first set to Ksyusha Saenko but battled back to win the second set 6-4, and the tiebreaker at 7-5 to even the match.

Moutama's victory extended her winning streak to nine matches and remains undefeated in MAC play at 8-0.

Toledo will play its final two matches of the season next week vs. Buffalo on Thursday, April 18 and at Ball State on Sunday, April 21.

Eastern Michigan 4, Toledo 3
Singles
1. Daniella Shved (EMU) def. Cassie Alcala (TOL) 1-6, 6-4, 7-6(2)
2. Prerna Vichare (EMU) def. Sloane Teske (TOL) 6-4, 6-1
3. Shalini Tallamraju (TOL) def. Andrea Quiroz (EMU) 6-2, 7-6(5)
4. Audrey Moutama (TOL) def. Ksyusha Saenko (EMU) 5-7, 6-4, 7-5
5. Linda Eloundou (EMU) def. Gaby Rondon (TOL) 6-2, 6-7(4), 7-6(5)
6. Julia Kuszynski (TOL) def. Sabina Brichackova (EMU) 6-3, 7-6(4)

Doubles
1. Cassie Alcala/Julia Kuszynski (TOL) vs. Daniella Shved/Prerna Vichare (EMU) 6-5, unfinished
2. Linda Eloundou/Andrea Quiroz (EMU) def. Sanjana Tallamraju/Sloane Teske (TOL) 6-4
3. Sabina Brichackova/Ksyusha Saenko (EMU) def. Audrey Moutama/Gaby Rondon (TOL) 7-5