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Women's Tennis Drops Georgia Southern in Season Opener

Jan. 21, 2006

ORLANDO - The UCF women's tennis team swept Georgia Southern, 7-0, in its season opener at the UCF Tennis Complex on Saturday afternoon.

The Golden Knights (1-0) earned the doubles point after winning matches as the No. 1 and No. 3 spots by identical 8-4 scores. Junior Megan Hunter rebounded from a loss in doubles competition and defeated Eagle Shea Huxtable, 6-0, 6-3, at No. 6 singles and sophomore Anna Yakimchenkova beat Lauren Wolken, 6-0, 6-4, at No. 3 to give the Knights a 3-0 lead.

UCF freshman Kenza Belbacha grabbed the deciding point at the No. 4 position with a 6-2, 7-6 win over Kim Wollett, while senior captain Pamela Fernandez also grabbed the victory over Lauren Wollet, 6-1, 6-3, at the top spot.

At No. 5, sophomore Jennnifer Carati battled back from down 5-2 in the first set and escaped Heather Reynolds, 7-5, 7-5, to keep the Golden Knights momentum. UCF freshman Elvira Serrot completed the sweep as she fought GSU's Molly Maddox to a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 win.

"Georgia Southern was a great team for us to gauge ourselves in the season opener," said UCF head coach Patricia Allison. "I was proud of the way the ladies played today and the scores reflect that."

The Golden Knights return to action at Florida on Jan. 25 for a 5 p.m. match.

Singles
1. Pamela Fernandez (UCF) def. Szilvia Zsakay (GSU), 6-1, 6-3
2. Elvira Serrot (UCF) def. Molly Maddox (GSU), 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
3. Anna Yakimchenkova (UCF) def. Lauren Wolken (GSU), 6-0, 6-4
4. Kenza Belbacha (UCF) def. Kim Wollett (GSU), 6-2, 7-6
5. Jennifer Carati (UCF) def. Heather Reynolds (GSU), 7-5, 7-5
6. Megan Hunter (UCF) def. Shea Huxtable (GSU), 6-0, 6-3

*Note: UCF's Becky Gordon and Kyla McNicol each won exhibition matches, 8-2.

Doubles
1. Fernandez/Yakimchenkova (UCF) def. Wollett/Maddox (GSU), 8-4
2. Zsakay/Reynolds (GSU) def Hunter/Becky Gordon (UCF), 8-4
3. Serrot/Belbacha (UCF) def. Huxtable/Wolken (UCF), 8-4