Toledo splits weekend to YSU and ICU

The University of Toledo women’s tennis team split their home matches this weekend at the Shadow Valley Tennis Club with a 4-3 win over Youngstown State on Saturday and a 5-2 defeat to University of Illinois-Chicago on Sunday.

Senior Emily Mazzola won in two straight sets for the Rockets in the No. 1 singles, defeating YSU’s Annina Brendel 6-0, 6-2. Sophomore Colleen O’Brien followed up with a win in the No. 2 singles beating Julianna Heino 6-3 in both sets.

The Penguins picked up their first win of the day in the No. 3 singles. Sofia Macias won the final two sets 6-1 after dropping the first set 6-3 to UT’s Sidnay Huck.

YSU’s Nehel Sahni followed up the win with one of her own with an exciting match in the No. 4 singles. Sahni defeated Toledo’s Megan Miller 6-2, 5-7, 7-5.

UT’s Claire Aleck broke the tie breaker, trumping Ana Store 6-3 in two sets in the No. 5 singles match.

Victoria Ferry of YSU tied the game at 3-3 before the doubles competition, defeating Toledo’s Lauren Thai 6-2 in two sets.

The Rockets secured the match victory with 6-0 wins in both the No. 1 and No. 3 doubles.

Toledo returned to the courts Sunday morning, this time to face off with the Flames of UIC. The Flames (1-1) proved to be a solid test for Rockets.

UIC went up early on Toledo, winning two of three doubles sets. Oana Manole and Rachel Comber of UIC defeated Mazzola and Huck 6-4 to take the No. 1 doubles.

The Rockets duo of Rani Goodland and Mackenzie Bowman defeated the Flames in the No. 2 doubles 6-4 leaving the No. 3 doubles to decide which team received the point for the match.

UIC’s Bianca Zuzu and Jackie Tansarnai overcame the tandem of Toledo’s Lauren Thai and Claire Aleck, 6-4 to claim the point for the Flames.

The Rockets once again got off to a fast start. Huck quickly dispatched of Manole by a score of 6-4, 6-2, in the No. 3 singles.

O’Brien continued her solid weekend by fighting off Hahn 7-6, 6-3 in a tough-fought battle in the No. 2 singles.

However, the Rockets would fail to pick up another win on the night and dropped the remaining four singles matches.

The tough loss dropped Toledo to 2-4 on the early season.

The Rockets return to the courts in two weeks, this time on the road. They’ll first travel to Cincinnati for a matchup with the Bearcats at 5 p.m.

The travel continues as they head to Miamisburg, Ohio to face off with the Raiders of Wright State.