Feb. 16, 2005
TAMPA - The No. 55 USF women's tennis team emerged with a hard fought 5-2 victory over UCF at USF Varsity Tennis Courts on Wednesday afternoon.
The Golden Knights (1-5) earned the first win of the day as sophomore Megan Rosario-Hunter and freshman Kyla McNicol beat the duo of Kristi Hurt and Carolyn Hoskin, 8-0, at the No. 3 position. After dropping the match at No. 1, UCF was poised to take the doubles point as it was up 7-5 in the final doubles match, but Courtney Vernon and Liz Cruz bounced back to take a 9-7 win over junior Pamela Fernandez and sophomore Becky Gordon.
In singles competition, Hunter and McNichol used their momentum from the doubles to earn identical 6-0, 6-0 victories at No. 5 and No. 6 and gave the Knights a 2-1 lead. The Bulls then tied the contest with triumphs at No. 2 and No. 1.
USF (3-0) clinched the match when Gabriela Duch defeated UCF senior Ola Luczak, 6-2, 6-3 at the No. 3 position. Meanwhile, freshman Jennifer Carati still battled with Cruz at No. 4. The Golden Knight won the first set 6-4 before dropping the last two sets, 6-1, 6-1.
"Overall, we played very good tennis," said sixth-year head coach Patricia Allison. "We are definitely improving and I am very please with that."
The Golden Knights face two more tough tests this weekend as they travel South on I-95. They visit Atlantic Sun rival Florida Atlantic on Saturday followed by a Sunday meeting with No. 10 Miami.
Singles
1. Neyssa Etienne (USF) def. Pamela Fernandez (UCF) 6-1, 6-2
2. Courtney Vernon (USF) def. Kristina Lohmas (UCF) 6-0, 6-2
3. Gabriela Duch (USF) def. Ola Luczak (UCF) 6-2, 6-3
4. Liz Cruz (USF) def. Jennifer Carati (UCF) 4-6, 6-1, 6-1
5. Megan Rosario-Hunter (UCF) def. Kristi Hurt (USF) 6-0, 6-0
6. Kyla McNicol (UCF) def. Carolyn Hoskin (USF) 6-0, 6-0
Doubles 1. Duch/Etienne (USF) def. Lohmas/Luczak (UCF) 8-0
2. Vernon/Cruz (USF) def. Fernandez/Gordon (UCF) 9-7
3. Hunter/McNicol (UCF) def. Hurt/Hoskin (USF) 8-0