NSU Closes Out the Regular Season With a 4-3 Win at Georgetown
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Dzmitry Zyhmantovich, Pascal Domnik, Robin Riethmueller and Igor Braga each picked up wins to give the Norfolk State men’s tennis team a 4-3 victory over Georgetown in the Spartans’ final match of the regular season.
NSU improved to 12-6 overall, while the Hoyas dropped to 7-11 on the season.
The Spartans opened the doubles competition with a win at the No. 2 spot. Braga and Riethmueller teamed up to defeat Casey Distaso and Daniel Khanin, 8-5. Shane Korber and Alex Tropiano posted an 8-2 victory against Zyhmantovich and Peter Ramstromer-Pello in the No. 1 position. The Hoyas clinched the doubles point after Jordan Portner and Jack Murphy upended Pascal and Daniel Grauel, 8-6
NSU and Georgetown battled until the end in singles play. Riethmueller competed at the No. 3 position, where he defeated Tropiano, 6-1, 6-3. Riethmueller is now 10-5 in singles competition. At the No. 5 spot, Distaso posted a 6-4, 6-2 win against Ramstromer-Pello. Braga competed at the No. 4 slot, where he upended Murphy, 1-6, 6-3, 6-3. Domnik claimed a 4-6, 6-3, 6-0 victory over Korber to remain undefeated at the No. 2 spot. Zyhmantovich sealed the win for the Spartans after posting a 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 win against Khanin in the No. 1 spot. The victory moved Zyhmantovich to 13-4 in singles play. Grauel closed out the match with a 7-5, 7-6(9) loss to John Brosens.
The Spartans will compete at the 2014 MEAC men’s tennis championship which is scheduled for April 17-19 at the Cayce Tennis and Fitness Center in Cayce, S.C.
For complete story, visit www.nsuspartans.com
Coppin State tops North Carolina A&T during Senior Day
BALTIMORE – Jennifer Mitchell enjoyed a senior day to remember thanks to her doubles partner, sophomore Miranda Taylor. The affable pair fueled Coppin State’s 5-2 victory over North Carolina A&T in a non-conference women’s tennis match Saturday afternoon.
Taylor and Mitchell, prevailed at No. 5 and No. 6 singles and won their doubles match to help the Eagles win their penultimate contest of the 2014 spring season. Playing with plenty of focus, the Eagles also got singles wins from Ashley Milo and Katherine Chisholm. Milo teamed with Zollisca Sunkins to win at No. 2 doubles to help Coppin State earn the coveted doubles point.
Mitchell will always remember the fantastic feeling of walking off of the Coppin State tennis courts for a final time as a winner. She was honored for her hard work, dedication and contributions to the women’s tennis program over the last four years prior to the start of the match against the Aggies. This was an excellent finish for Mitchell, who enjoyed a good weekend. Competing during Friday’s home track meet, Mitchell set a personal record in the long jump.
Taylor was just happy she could help Mitchell enjoy a memorable ending to her career. A sports management major, Taylor is still new to tennis. She has been playing the sport for five years. Prior to playing tennis, Taylor was a figure skater for 11 years. Combining the footwork, agility and discipline of figure skating along with the speed of track, which she also ran in high school, has helped Taylor excel on the tennis court.
Taylor has a strong serve and forehand. Her speed helps her get balls that few think are possible to reach. Once her playing days are concluded, Taylor wants to go to law school so that she can work in entertainment and sports law. Hammering out a team contract or two is something Taylor would love to do once she finishes leaving her mark at Coppin State.
Mitchell and Taylor won their doubles match with a thrilling 8-6 victory. They also won a pair of straight set matches that were fun to watch. Taylor claimed her contest with 6-4, 6-4 decisions while Mitchell won her match, 7-5, 6-2.
Chisholm won the match of the day. Following up her victory against Morgan State, Chisholm defeated the Aggies’ Sandra Smith, 6-4, 1-6, and won the tiebreaker, 10-6. Playing at No. 1 singles, Milo was a 6-2, 6-4 winner. Milo and Sunkins won their doubles match, 8-3.
The future for the Coppin State women’s tennis program is bright. Mitchell is the only one who departs from this talented team. With sophomore Carentxa Goede, Milo, Taylor, Sunkins and Chisholm returning next season, the Eagles could be set to soar. Even though the Eagles did not qualify for the MEAC tournament and had little to play for, they played every point as if a championship was on the line.
Coppin State will conclude its season with a road contest at Maryland-Baltimore County Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
For complete story, visit www.coppinstatesports.com
Bethune-Cookman sweeps Northern Kentucky
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Santiago Lobelo got a Senior Day victory as Bethune-Cookman (5-17) downed Northern Kentucky (4-14) 4-3 to snap a five-match losing streak.
The lone senior, Lobelo’s win at No. 3 singles helped the Wildcats recover from dropping the double points. Alvaro Barrera, Diego Garavito and Greg Almeida also posted singles win for B-CU in its regular season finale.
In women’s action, Elizabeth Nyenwe recorded her 20th singles victory as Bethune-Cookman (18-9) posted a 5-2 Senior Day victory over Northern Kentucky (5-16) Saturday afternoon.
Nyenwe, one of two Lady Wildcat seniors honored, improved to 20-5 on the season and joined freshman Mina Matsuba, who recorded her 14th straight victory for her 21st win of the season, to give the Lady Wildcats their first 20-win tandem since Monika Musilova and Kiara Powell in 2007.
Chinatsu Kajiwara won at No. 1 singles, and Gaby Chinchilla took No. 4 singles after erasing a 3-0 deficit in the second set tiebreaker to help B-CU clinch the regular season finale. The Lady Wildcats enter next week’s Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament at the No. 1 seed from the South Division.
For complete story, visit www.bcuathletics.com