March 11, 2008
HOUSTON, Texas (www.ucfathletics.com) - The UCF women's tennis team suffered a 5-2 loss at the hands of No. 75 Rice Tuesday afternoon in Houston, a day after its match vs. the University of Houston was cancelled due to rain. With the loss, the Knights fell to 6-6 on the season, while it was the Owls' (12-4) sixth-straight victory.
UCF played Rice tight in doubles action, earning an 8-6 win at No. 2 as senior Jennifer Carati and junior Elvira Serrot defeated Tiffany Lee and Rebecca Lin. It was the duo's eighth victory at the No. 2 spot in dual-match play this year. But the Owls were able to pick up wins at Nos. 1 and 3 doubles to take a 1-0 overall lead.
Rice stretched it to 2-0 when singles opened up, where Varsha Shiva-Shankar got by Carati at No. 6, 6-0, 6-1. Senior Anna Yakimchenkova then provided the Black and Gold with its first point with a 6-2, 6-1 triumph at No. 5 over Emily Braid. Following a Rice win at No. 3, freshman Jenny Frisell kept the Knights close with a 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 performance against Julie Chao at No. 1.
Leading 3-2 and with the remaining two singles matches in third sets, Rice was able to hang on for the 5-2 win.
The Black and Gold return home to face Syracuse Friday at 2 p.m. and Dartmouth Sunday at noon.
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#75 Rice 5, UCF 2Doubles competition1. Julie Chao/Dominique Karas (RICE) def. Jenny Frisell/Kyla McNicol (UCF) 8-42. Jennifer Carati/Elvira Serrot (UCF) def. Tiffany Lee/Rebecca Lin (RICE) 8-63. Emily Braid/Varsha Shiva-Shankar (RICE) def. Kenza Belbacha/Anna Yakimchenkova (UCF) 8-5
Singles competition1. Jenny Frisell (UCF) def. Julie Chao (RICE) 6-4, 2-6, 6-22. Dominique Karas (RICE) def. Elvira Serrot (UCF) 6-2, 3-6, 7-53. Tiffany Lee (RICE) def. Kyla McNicol (UCF) 6-4, 6-34. Rebecca Lin (RICE) def. Kenza Belbacha (UCF) 5-7, 6-2, 6-25. Anna Yakimchenkova (UCF) def. Emily Braid (RICE) 6-2, 6-16. Varsha Shiva-Shankar (RICE) def. Jennifer Carati (UCF) 6-0, 6-1
Match Notes:UCF 6-6Rice 12-4; National ranking #75Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (6,5,3,1,4,2)T-4:12 ="https://ucfknights.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://ucfknights.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://ucfknights.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>