The Miami University RedHawks tennis team upset the top-seeded University of Massachusetts Minutemen in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) tournament semifinals on April 25. In the next round, the team fell 4-2 to Toledo in the championship on April 26.
Miami was picked sixth overall by the MAC coaches at the beginning of the season, which motivated the players heading into the weekend tournament.
“I took a little bit of that anger out like I wanted to show them, and I think it really helped,” said sophomore Malu Oliveira, who won a three-set match to send Miami to the final.
During the final championship match, Miami quickly lost the doubles point 6-0, but spirits were still high going into singles.
In the first round of singles, Oliveira won the first team point. Teammate Allie Faulkner lost her match (6-4, 6-4), but freshman Nina Chavez won her match (6-2, 7-6), contributing another team point. Sophomore Avery Voss lost in straight sets tipping the score 3-2 in Toledo’s favor.
Tensions rose in the stands, forcing Miami’s head coach Ricardo Rosas to ask Toledo fans to stop cheering when his players made unforced errors.
“I am 100% for cheering, but tennis is about you cheering for your team,” Rosas said. “The MAC is clear about fair play, and that’s what I’m fighting for.”
Freshman Maria Komar fought for the win in the third set against Toledo’s Annika Munson, while freshman Evelyn Risner was in a third set against Anastasia Akuginova. The players from both teams lined up cheering for their teammates as the spectators grew louder.
At 3-4 in the third set, Risner took a medical timeout and a trainer examined her legs. She resumed play down 0-15 after a point penalty for the timeout, and Akuginova went on to win her match (6-3, 6-7, 6-3).
The crowd erupted as Toledo’s team celebrated with hugs and poured Gatorade on head coach Tracy Mauntler. Rosas called the RedHawks for a team huddle on an adjacent court.
“Obviously no one likes losing, but it is producing something inside of them,” Rosas said. “I have no doubt that before they leave this program, we will be MAC champions.”
Miami ended its season with a 9-14 overall record. Nina Chavez and Malu Oliveira were both named to the All-Tournament team.
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This story was produced by a Miami journalism student in partnership with The Miami Student newspaper.
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