By: Christian Turner

The Zips tennis team ended their 12-0 winning streak, suffering their first loss of the season over the weekend in a tough match against nationally ranked Brown University, 4-3.

“We will learn from this, and focus on starting another streak like the one that just ended,” Akron Head Coach Brandon Padgett told GoZips.com.

The team sealed the doubles point with Zara Harutyanun and Prang Pantusart winning for the eleventh straight time of the season at No. 1. At No. 3, Olga Shkundina and Angelina and Jogasuria won 8-6. Angelika Jogasuria and Natalia Kuvakina fell short at No. 2, 8-4.

Akron clutched their only win in singles with a 6-2, 7-5 victory at No. 4 with junior Angelina Jogasuria defeating Brown’s Sarah Kandath.

The Bears are ranked 44th in NCAA Division I tennis.

Prior to the Brown match, the tennis team defeated their first nationally ranked Division I opponent (what day???).

The Zips came off their amazing 12-0 run ending with their victory over defending Ivy League champions Dartmouth.

This was the first time Akron had ever faced this opponent.

The team swept The Big Green at all three doubles slots to earn the point.

At No. 1, Harutyunyan and Pantusart defeated Akiko Okuda and partner Theresa Smith with a score of 8-2. At No. 2, Angelika Jogasuria and Kuvakina defeated Shelley Carpeni and Rachel Decker-Sadowski 8-3.  Shkudina and Angelina Jogasuria defeated Sarah Leonard and Jeri Reichel 8-7 (3).

This was the Zips’ 10th time clenching the doubles point this season.

The Zips’ only loss of the day came from the No. 1 singles slot. Harutyunyan lost against Dartmouth’s Sarah Leonard. She fought hard in a three-set score of 0-6, 7-5, and 10-8.

This was Harutyunyan’s first loss in singles in 10 matches.

On Wednesday, The Zips faced off against the Kentucky Wildcats.

In a suspenseful match, the team squeezed past with a score of 4-3.

Harutyunyan competed in marathon play at No. 1, going three sets against Wildcats’ No. 1 Khristina Blajkevitch. With a score of 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 Harutyunyan sealed the match victory for the Zips.

Shkudina sealed No. 3 against Jessica Stiles 6-2, 6-1, while Pantusart defeated Kentucky’s Stephanie Fox 7-5, 6-2.  At No. 6, Angelika Jogasuria beat Misha Testerman 6-1, 6-4.

This was the Zips’ first time ever facing off against the Wildcats, improving to 7-0 at home.

The Zips do not play again until they head to the West coast on March 11 to face off against New Mexico and Northern Arizona.

The next home match against Miami (Ohio) University is Friday, March 23 at LaTuchie Tennis Center in Stow.