WMU News

Women's tennis team suffers first MAC loss

April 2, 2000

KALAMAZOO -- In two key road matches against MAC opponents this weekend, the Western Michigan University women's tennis team defeated Miami, 4-3, on Friday, but fell at Marshall by the same score on Saturday.

With the split, the defending Mid-American Conference champion Broncos are 8-6 overall and 2-1 in league competition. In the 2000 preseason coaches' poll, WMU, Marshall and Miami were picked to finish first, second and third, respectively, in the MAC.

In their 1999 championship season, the Broncos posted a 16-10 overall record, and a 10-2 MAC ledger en route to winning their fifth MAC championship under head coach Betsy Kuhle.

The first MAC Women's Tennis Championship of the new millenium will be held at WMU's Sorensen Courts April 27-29 in Kalamazoo.

WMU 4 Miami 3

The Broncos won 4-3 at Miami on Friday (March 31). Western Michigan swept the doubles matches to claim the deciding point. WMU split the six singles bouts.

Larissa Chinwah and Nikki Thompson teamed up to win 8-6 at No. 1 doubles. Cyra Malik and Melanie Remynse were 8-5 winners at No. 2 while the senior tandem of Kendra Becker and Diana Dimitrescu cruised to an 8-0 win at No. 3.

Malik notched a 6-1, 6-3 win in the No. 2 singles slot. Remynse won for the sixth time in her last seven singles matches with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Elin Bengtsson at No. 4. Dimitrescu won easily at No. 5 singles, posting a 6-1, 6-1 triumph. Becker saw her four-match winning streak come to an end with a 5-7, 6-4, 7-3 loss to Alyson Gabel at No. 6. Chinwah lost 7-5, 6-2 at No. 1. Thompson was tied 6-4, 6-7 (3), at No. 2 before being forced to retire.

Marshall 4 WMU 3

WMU suffered its first MAC loss of the season on Saturday (April 1) with a 4-3 setback at Marshall. The Broncos split their singles matches, and lost the deciding doubles match.

In singles competition, Larissa Chinwah lost, 6-3, 6-4, at No. 1; Cyra Malik lost, 6-0, 4-6, 6-4, at No. 2; and Nikki Thompson lost, 6-0, 6-2, at No. 3. Playing at No. 4, Melanie Ramayse won, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2. The Portage Northern graduate is 3-0 in conference singles play so far this season. Diana Dimitrescu won, 6-0, 6-2, at No. 5; and No. 6 Kendra Becker won, 6-2, 6-4.

WMU's No. 1 doubles team of Chinwah and Thompson lost 9-7. The No. 2 team, Malik-Ramayse, lost 8-6, and Dimitrescu and Becker won, 8-6, at No. 3.

Media contact: Geoff Brown; 616 387-4138; geoffrey.brown@wmich.edu


Office of University Relations
Western Michigan University
1903 W Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5433 USA
616 387-8400
univ-rel@wmich.edu

http://www.wmich.edu/wmu/news