March 4, 2007
Orlando, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - Playing its third match in four days, the UCF women's tennis team had enough energy to lock up a 6-1 victory over UNC Greensboro Sunday at the UCF Tennis Complex. It was the Golden Knights' fourth-straight win as they improved to 4-4 on the season.
The doubles teams continued to shine vs. the Spartans (3-3), sweeping the three matches to take the first team point of the afternoon. Junior Anna Yakimchenkova and sophomore Elvira Serrot stayed hot at No. 1 doubles, claiming their fifth-straight match with an 8-2 win over Erica Zabkar and Arielle VonStrolley. The duo moved to 7-3 over the last 10 contests.
Meanwhile, junior Kyla McNicol and sophomore Kenza Belbacha earned their fourth-consecutive victory, defeating Valerie Behr and Jessica Eblen at No. 2, 8-4. Senior Becky Gordon and junior Jennifer Carati wrapped up doubles thanks to an 8-6 win at No. 3 vs. Whitney Miles and Courtney Akel.
When singles began, UCF's Nos. 4, 5 and 6 players did not take long in securing the overall win, combining to give up just 12 games. McNicol moved to 7-2 in singles by getting past Akel at No. 4, 6-2, 6-3, while senior Megan Hunter came through at No. 5 with a 6-2, 6-2 decision over Behr. At No. 6, Gordon claimed her 12th singles win, defeating Eblen, 6-1, 6-2.
At the top of the line-up, Yakimchenkova took a first-set tiebreaker over Miles at No. 3 and went on to post a 7-6(5), 6-3 win. Serrot earned the Knights' final point, needing three sets to edge VonStrolley at No. 1, 6-2, 3-6, 1-0(10-4). Belbacha played very well at No. 2, but could not squeak out the third-set super-tiebreaker to Zabkar, 4-6, 6-2, 1-0(10-4).
After performing well in doubles, Carati went on to win an exhibition singles match, 8-2.
UCF concludes its four-match home stand with a 9 a.m. meeting against Xavier Wednesday. 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.