April 30, 2012
Results
LOCKPORT, Ill. - It came down to the last match in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional, but No. 23 Grand Valley State women's tennis team fell to No. 16 Northwood, 5-4, on Monday afternoon at Challenge Fitness.
With its 11th-straight appearance in a regional, GVSU closes out the season with a 23-9 record. Northwood improves to 16-3 and advances to play Lewis on Sunday.
The Lakers got behind early falling 2-1 in doubles play. The duo of sophomores Niki Shipman (Saline, Mich.) and Lexi Rice (Augusta, Mich.) picked up an 8-2 win in the No. 3 spot.
In singles play it was a very tight competition as Northwood took 3-1 lead with Ayana Kobayashi's, 6-2, 6-1, win in the No. 3 spot. The Lakers were able to get back in the match though with a 6-3, 6-3 victory from junior Allison Fecko (Grand Rapids, Mich.) in the No. 6 spot. Another win in the No. 5 position from sophomore Anne Marie Morin (Rochester Hills, Mich.) (6-3, 6-4) tied the match at 3-3.
Northwood took the lead back with a win at No. 1 singles before senior Tara Hayes (Shelby Township, Mich.) closed out her career with a 6-3, 7-5 win over Svenja Stephan in the No. 2 spot to make it a 4-4 match.
Down to the final point, the No. 4 singles match of Nastya Puchkina and Rice went to three sets, but it was Northwood that would win, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 to advance in the region.
The match was not new to the Lakers as they fell to the Timberwolves in the GLIAC Championship match in October.
Tennis Match Results
Northwood vs Grand Valley State
Apr 30, 2012 at Lockport, IL
(Challenge Fitness)
#16 Northwood 5, #23 Grand Valley State 4
Singles competition
1. Susana Alcaraz (NU) def. Niki Shipman (GV) 6-3, 6-1
2. Tara Hayes (GV) def. Svenja Stephan (NU) 6-3, 7-5
3. Ayana Kobayashi (NU) def. Leah Dancz (GV) 6-2, 6-1
4. Nastya Puchkina (NU) def. Lexi Rice (GV) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
5. Anne Marie Morin (GV) def. Nikoletta Kaposzta (NU) 6-3, 6-4
6. Allison Fecko (GV) def. Karine Larher (NU) 6-3, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Susana Alcaraz/Nastya Puchkina (NU) def. Tara Hayes/Alyssa Lucas (GV) 8-5
2. Ayana Kobayashi/Svenja Stephan (NU) def. Leah Dancz/Allison Fecko (GV) 8-3
3. Niki Shipman/Lexi Rice (GV) def. Nikoletta Kaposzta/Karine Larher (NU) 8-2
Match Notes: Northwood 16-3; National ranking #16; Regional ranking #5
Grand Valley State 23-9; National ranking #23; Regional ranking #4
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (3,6,5,1,2,4)
2012 NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Tournament
Official: Coleman/Lumpkin T-3:01 A-31
