March 21, 2007
Orlando, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - Looking for a huge upset Wednesday at the UCF Tennis Complex, the UCF women's tennis team fell just short in a 4-3 loss to No. 35 Denver. The loss dropped the Golden Knights to 6-6 on the season, while the Pioneers moved to 9-5 after claiming four points in singles to notch the victory.
UCF dominated doubles action, wasting little time in locking up the first team point of the afternoon. Junior Anna Yakimchenkova and sophomore Elvira Serrot were cruising over Rachel Sackmaster and Ute Schnoy at No. 1 before the Pioneer duo was forced to retire at 5-2. The Golden Knights secured the doubles point at No. 2 when junior Kyla McNicol and sophomore Kenza Belbacha posted an 8-2 victory over Julia Bauregger and Kyla Iwinski. Junior Jennifer Carati and senior Becky Gordon completed the sweep by getting past Annette Aksdal and Lorinda Boothman at No. 3, 8-3.
Denver managed to storm back in singles play, and eventually racked up wins at Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 6 to squeak out the win. McNicol won her seventh-straight match by defeating Sackmaster at No. 4, 6-4, 6-2. At No. 5, senior Megan Hunter needed three very close sets in recording a 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 triumph over Iwinski. Hunter trailed her opponent in the third set, 5-2, but somehow found a way to battle back to win five-straight games for the match. But Denver used two straight-set wins at No. 3 and No. 6, and then two three-set victories at the top two positions to get by UCF, 4-3.
After taking Thursday off, UCF stays right at home Friday when it welcomes Dartmouth for a 1 p.m. showdown. For the latest news and information on the Golden Knights, tickets or apparel log on to www.ucfathletics.com - the official site for UCF athletics.