WMU News

Women's tennis team 1-1 in weekend action

Feb. 20, 2000

KALAMAZOO -- The Western Michigan University women's tennis team bounced back from a 5-2 loss Saturday (Feb. 19) at Purdue by defeating the University of Illinois-Chicago Flames 7-0 Sunday (Feb. 20) at WMU.

The Broncos evened their record at 4-4 with the victory. Western Michigan does not play again until March 17, when they play at Ferris State.

Western Michigan had no problems bouncing back from its defeat Saturday to douse the Flames. Larissa Chinwah won 6-2, 7-6 (4) at No. 1 singles. Nikki Thompson defeated Jacki Farr 6-1, 5-7, 6-1 at No. 2 while Cyra Malik was a 7-5, 6-2 winner at No. 3. Melanie Remynse won in straight sets (7-5, 6-0) at No. 4, as did Diana Dimitrescu at No. 5 (6-0, 6-1). Kendra Becker completed the sweep with a 6-3, 6-2 victory at No. 6.

The Broncos jumped out to a 1-0 lead by winning all three doubles bouts against UIC. Dimitrescu and Becker won 8-4 at No. 3. Remynse and Malik recorded a 9-7 triumph at No. 2, while Chinwah and Thompson won 8-4 in the No. 1 doubles slot.

Purdue 5, WMU 2

Senior Cyra Malik and rookie Melanie Remynse accounted for WMU's points with wins at No. 2 and No. 5 singles, respectively. Malik defeated Shannon Taheny while Remynse knocked off Lynsey Fick 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (2).

Larissa Chinawh fell 6-2, 7-6 (8) to Jennifer Embry at No. 1; Nikki Thompson lost 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (4) at No. 3 singles. At No. 4, Diana Dimitrescu was defeated 7-5, 6-1. Kendra Becker lost by the same score at No. 6.

In doubles play, WMU notched a win at No. 2, with Remynse and Malik teaming up for an 8-3 victory. Chinwah and Thompson lost by an 8-3 score at No. 1 and Becker and Dimitrescu were defeated 8-2 at No. 3.

Last season, WMU posted a 16-10 overall record, and a 10-2 MAC ledger en route to winning its fifth MAC championship under head coach Betsy Kuhle. The Broncos defeated Eastern Michigan 4-2 in Muncie, Ind., in the title match. The MAC championship earned WMU its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. Western Michigan lost 5-0 to No. 7 UCLA in the first round of the 1999 NCAA Tournament in Los Angeles.

A three-time Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year, Kuhle has built a program that is a model of excellence among Division I programs. The Broncos achieve both on the court and in the classroom, landing top-two MAC finishes in all but three years since league play began in 1981 and scoring five national scholar-athletes since 1989. The women's tennis program has also posted a 100 percent graduation rate during Kuhle's 16-year tenure.

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

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


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