Jan. 19, 2007
Orlando, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - In a format that will help the women's tennis team prepare for the dual-match season, the Golden Knights kicked off the UCF Invitational Friday with eight flights of singles and three flights of doubles play. Sophomore Elvira Serrot (Madrid, Spain) and senior Megan Hunter (Poquoson, Va.) both dropped their first sets only to battle back to claim key victories in their respective flights.
The tournament opened with doubles action, where all three UCF tandems fell in some very close matches. Serrot and junior Anna Yakimchenkova (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) suffered a 9-7 defeat in Flight A to Auburn University Montgomery's Tereza Veverkova and Hannah Kuervers. Hunter and sophomore Kenza Belbacha (Casablanca, Morocco) dropped an 8-6 decision in Flight B to AUM's Kamila Dadakhodjaeva and Dominika Zuzulova, while senior Becky Gordon (Tampa, Fla.) and junior Jennifer Carati (Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela) lost to Nadia Lysak and Yudeshnee Pillay of AUM in Flight C, 8-4.
Four of the eight singles matches proved to be tight as well. Serrot stormed back from a 6-4 first-set loss to Dadkhodjaeva in Flight A, cruising in the second set, 6-1, and eventually picking up the win in the third-set super tiebreaker, 10-4. The opposite occurred in Yakimchenkova's Flight C match with Kuervers. After losing only one game in the first, Yakimchenkova dropped the second, 6-2, but made quick work of the super breaker with a 10-5 win. Also needing a third-set tiebreaker, Hunter squeaked by Lysak in Flight E, 3-6, 6-1, 1-0(10-8).
Freshman Zoe Kent (Valrico, Fla.) and junior Kyla McNicol (Winnipeg, Manitoba) each took on the same opponent in AUM's Rachel Dunlavy. In Flight G, Kent got by Dunlavy, 6-0, 6-4, and in Flight H, McNicol never lost serve in a 6-0, 6-0 triumph.
The tournament continues Saturday and Sunday with action beginning both days at 9:30 a.m. For the latest news and information on the Golden Knights log on to www.ucfathletics.com - the official site for UCF athletics.
UCF Results From Day One of the UCF Invitational
Doubles
Flight A Tereza Veverkova/Hannah Kuervers (AUM) def. Elvira Serrot/Anna Yakimchenkova (UCF) 9-7
Flight B Kamila Dadakhodjaeva/Dominika Zuzulova (AUM) def. Megan Hunter/Kenza Belbacha (UCF) 8-6
Flight C Nadia Lysak/Yudeshnee Pillay (AUM) def. Becky Gordon/Jennifer Carati (UCF) 8-4
Singles
Flight A Elvira Serrot (UCF) def. Kamila Dadkhodjaeva (AUM) 4-6, 6-1, 1-0(10-4)
Flight B Tereza Veverkova (AUM) def. Kenza Belbacha (UCF) 6-1, 6-0
Flight C Anna Yakimchenkova (UCF) def. Hannah Kuervers (AUM) 6-1, 2-6, 1-0(10-5)
Flight D Dominika Zuzulova (AUM) def. Jennifer Carati (UCF) 6-3, 7-6(5)
Flight E Megan Hunter (UCF) def. Nadia Lysak (AUM) 3-6, 6-1, 1-0(10-8)
Flight F Yudeshnee Pillay (AUM) def. Becky Gordon (UCF) 6-1, 6-4
Flight G Zoe Kent (UCF) def. Rachel Dunlavy (AUM) 6-0, 6-4
Flight H Kyla McNicol (UCF) def. Rachel Dunlavy (AUM) 6-0, 6-0
Afternoon Session Results
Doubles
Flight A Kozmina/Nitkova (GSU) def. Bloczynska/Kulaif (UTEP) 8-6
Flight B Molina/Stahl-Johansson (GSU) def. Palider/Samantha Atard (UTEP) 8-5
Flight C Deluca/Chatagner (UTEP) def. Strickland/Smith (GSU) 8-4
Singles
Flight A Weronika Bloczynska (UTEP) def. Dariana Kozmina (GSU) 6-2, 3-6, 1-0(10-5)
Flight B Martina Nitkova (GSU) def. I. Kulaif (UTEP) 6-1, 7-5
Flight C M. Deluca (UTEP) def. Rachel Malina (GSU) 6-1, 6-3
Flight D Katherine Palider (UTEP) def. Emma Stahl-Johansson (GSU) 6-0, 6-2
Flight E Mateja Podgorsek (GSU) def. Harmonie Chatagner (UTEP) 6-2, 7-5
Flight F Megan Pritchard (UTEP) def. Brittany Smith (GSU) 6-3, 6-2
Flight G Kiera Strickland (GSU) def. Nilsa Ramirez (UTEP) 7-6(4), 6-3