March 18, 2006
ORLANDO - After dropping the doubles point, the UCF women's tennis team rebounded to take a 4-3 win over visiting Minnesota at the UCF Tennis Complex on Saturday.
The Golden Gophers (3-9) opened the morning with an 8-4 win at No. 2 doubles before the Golden Knights (8-5) took an 8-2 victory at No. 3. The point was decided at the No. 1 position in a two-hour long match that ended with UM senior Nischela Reddy and freshman Mariana Spilca edging UCF's duo of senior Pamela Fernandez and freshman Elvira Serrot, 9-8 (7-5).
The Golden Knights were able to rally early in the singles competition as sophomore Kyla McNicol earned a 6-1, 6-1 decision at No. 5 followed by junior Becky Gordon taking a 6-2, 6-1 victory at No. 6. Fernandez soon gave UCF a 3-1 lead after defeating Reddy, 6-1, 6-4, at the top of the lineup.
At No. 3, junior Ida Malmberg brought Minnesota back within one by beating UCF sophomore Anna Yakimchenkova, 6-4, 6-3, before Serrot clinched the win at No. 2. She emerged victorious over Spilca, 7-5, 6-2.
Sophomore Danille Mousseau grabbed the last match of the day for Minnesota as she battled back against UCF freshman Kenza Belbacha, 5-7, 6-4, 6-1.
It was the third straight victory for the Golden Knights.
"Coming back after dropping the doubles point is a testament to the character of this team and it was a result of some of the other tough matches that we played this season," said UCF head coach Patricia Allison.
The Golden Knights continue their five-match homestand with Murray State on Wednesday at 2 p.m.
Singles
1. Pamela Fernandez (UCF) def. Nischela Reddy (UM), 6-1, 6-4
2. Elvira Serrot (UCF) def. Mariana Spilca (UM), 7-5, 6-2
3. Ida Malmberg (UM) def. Anna Yakimchenkova (UCF), 6-4, 6-3
4. Danielle Mousseau (UM) def. Kenza Belbacha (UCF), 5-7, 6-4, 6-1
5. Kyla McNicol (UCF) def. Marina Bugaenco (UM), 6-1, 6-1
6. Becky Gordon (UCF) def. Megan Steiger (UM), 6-2, 6-1
Doubles
1. Reddy/Malmberg (UM) def. Fernandez/Serrot (UCF), 9-8 (7-5)
2. Spilca/Mousseau (UM) def. McNicol/Megan Hunter (UCF), 8-4
3. Belbacha/Yakimchenkova (UCF) def. Bugaenco/Shelby Rohren (UM), 8-2
Order of Finish: Doubles - 2, 3, 1; Singles - 5, 6, 1, 3, 2, 4.