Women's Tennis Advances To Second Round Of NCAA Tournament With 5-3 Win Over Tiffin

MIDLAND, MICH. - The Northwood University women's tennis team advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a 5-3 win over Tiffin Monday afternoon (May 5).

Northwood, seeded second in the Midwest Region, remains undefeated on the season with a 22-0 overall record. Tiffin, the seventh seed, sees it season come to an end with a 20-8 record.

The Timberwolves got off to a strong start in doubles, winning the first two matches. The duo of Anna Aniskina (Odesa, Ukraine) and Anastasiia Kazub picked up an 8-2 win at the No. 3 position to take an early 1-0 lead. Darina Berkova (Ceske Budejovic, Czech Republic) and Anastasia Puchkina (Seversk, Russia) then made it 2-0 with an 8-5 victory at the No. 1 position. NU had a chance to go up 3-0, leading 7-6 at No. 2 doubles, but the Dragons rallied to win 9-7 and send the match to singles NU on top 2-1.

It was the bottom of the Northwood lineup that came up big in the singles matches, as NU posted straight-set wins at the fourth through sixth flights. Inesa Asatryan (Yaroslavl, Russia) earned the first win in singles, claiming a 6-1, 6-2 victory at the No. 4 position. Tiffin picked up the next two wins, claiming straight set wins at the No. 2 and No. 3 matches to level the overall score 3-3.  But Northwood closed out decisive victories at five and six singles, thanks to wins by Aniskina and Margarita Asatryan (Yaroslavl, Russia). Asatryan won at the sixth position 6-3, 6-0 which was followed moments later by Aniskina claiming a 6-2, 6-0 win at No. 5 singles to close out the match.

Northwood will now face third-seeded Wayne State in the second round Tuesday (May 5). The winner of that match will reach the Round of 16, which will take place May 14 in Altamonte Springs, Fla.

#38 Northwood 5, Tiffin 3
May 05, 2014 at Midland, Mich. (Midland, Mich. - M.C.T.C.)
Singles competition
1. Darina Berkova (NU) vs. Caroline Nelhage (TU) 4-6, 5-5, unfinished
2. Valentina Mazzola (TU) def. Anastasia Puchkina (NU) 6-1, 6-1
3. Malaika Messi (TU) def. Anastasiia Kazub (NU) 6-1, 6-2
4. Inesa Asatryan (NU) def. Chelsea Beck (TU) 6-1, 6-2
5. Anna Aniskina (NU) def. Rachelmary Brozovich (TU) 6-2, 6-0
6. Margarita Asatryan (NU) def. Abigail Schuster (TU) 6-3, 6-0