Women split weekend series; Sisko continues 15-match win streak

The Toledo women’s tennis team split a pair of home games over the weekend while the men’s team lost on the road.

The women’s team got off on the right foot with a 6-1 victory over arch rival Bowling Green on Friday before falling to Miami (OH) by the same score on Sunday at the Shadow Valley Country Club.

The men’s team dropped their eighth straight game of the spring with a 5-2 road loss at Buffalo on Friday.

The women’s team (7-10, 1-3 MAC) started their weekend winning the Battle of I-75.

“When we play our rival it’s always an emotional battle just as much as a physical battle,” said Head Coach Tracy Mauntler. “I was proud of the way the team competed and I felt that we were mentally tough from top to bottom.”

Senior Emily Mazzola and sophomore Sidnay Huck started things off for Toledo winning the No. 1 doubles 5-4. Sophomore Megan Miller and senior Lauren Thai kept the momentum going, capturing the No. 2 doubles 6-4.

Toledo completed a sweep in the doubles with a 6-0 win in the No. 3 slot. Mazzola continued the strong play for the Rockets in the first singles match, defeating BGSU’s Rodera in three sets 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.

The Falcons got their lone win of the day in the No. 2 singles in two straight sets. Toledo got things back on track in the No. 3 singles with Miller winning 6-2, 6-4.

Sophomore Colleen O’Brien took the first set 6-3 in the No. 4 singles, but fell short of the four server points to take the second set 7-6 (4).

Freshman Claire Aleck and Thai finished the day off for UT with 6-0, 6-1 wins in the No. 5 and No. 6 singles respectively.

The Rockets returned to the court on Sunday, losing to conference foe Miami (OH) 6-1.

It was a tough day for UT from the beginning with Mazzola and Huck losing in the No. 1 doubles slot 7-5. Ana Rajkovic and Hannah Shteyn won the doubles point for the Redhawks with a 6-2 victory in the No. 3 doubles slot.

Toledo didn’t fare any better in singles play with the first five competitors failing to win a set.

UT grabbed their only victory of the day as Aleck beat Erin Rodriguez 7-6, 6-3 in a competitive final match.

The women’s team will welcome Northern Illinois to the Glass City on Friday, April 8, before hosting Western Michigan on Sunday, April 10. Both matches are scheduled to start at 1 p.m.

The men’s team (7-14, 0-4 MAC) put themselves in a hole early against Buffalo on Saturday afternoon. Senior Stjepan Sisko and freshman Luka Vitosevic were defeated 6-1 n the No. 1 doubles.

Sophomore Omar Espinosa and freshman Danilo Pejovic evened things up for the Rockets with a win in the No. 2 doubles but Buffalo won the finals double match to win the point.

“Our doubles showed promise because we got going at No. 2. This is a team full of fighters. We’re going to do very well in the end,” said Head Coach Al Wermer.

Sisko continued his fifteen match win streak in the No. 1 singles slot defeating Alvarez 6-4, 5-7, 7-4. Vitosevic won the only other match for the Rockets, taking the No. 2 singles slot in straight sets. UT went on to drop the last four matches.

Anzalone put up a tough fight before losing to Mehta 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in the No. 3 spot as he was the only other Rocket to take a set.

UT’s men’s team will look to put an end to their losing streak as they travel to take on Northern Illinois on Sunday, April 10 at 1 p.m.