April 11, 2008
ORLANDO, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - Three seniors played their last home match at the UCF Tennis Complex Friday and guided the women's tennis team to a 6-1 victory over Stetson. The Knights closed out the regular season with an 11-8 record and a 7-3 mark at home this year.
"It was definitely a tough match since it was the hottest day we had all year, and Stetson played very well," said first-year head coach Stephanie Nickitas. "This was a really good team win all the way around, and I am proud that we were able to get a victory for our seniors. We are a close team and we will miss them a lot."
Seniors Jennifer Carati, Kyla McNicol and Anna Yakimchenkova led the UCF doubles teams to an early 1-0 lead as the Knights swept all three matches vs. the Hatters (13-10). McNicol paired with freshman Jenny Frisell for an 8-5 victory over Valentina Galbarini and Unnati Purushotham at No. 1, while Yakimchenkova and junior Kenza Belbacha posted an 8-2 triumph at No. 3 against Anna Leonenko and Natalie Gorham.
To complete the sweep, Carati and Serrot battled Breanna Atkinson and Katherine Nowicki to 7-7 at No. 2, where they went to a tiebreak with the team point already clinched. The Knight tandem went on to notch the win, their 10th-straight doubles victory and 17th for 2008, which is just four shy of matching UCF's single-season record.
The Knights then used four straight-set wins in singles en route to defeating Stetson. McNicol posted her 17th singles victory in a 6-0, 6-3 performance against Purushotham at No. 3. Over at No. 6, Carati got past Nowicki at the No. 6 spot, 7-5, 6-3, and Serrot topped Atkinson, 6-1, 6-4, at No. 2. The No. 4 position witnessed Belbacha cruise by Megan Jones, 6-1, 7-5, and to wrap up the afternoon, Frisell captured win No. 17 when Galbarini retired at No. 1, 4-6, 6-5, ret.
With the regular season in the rear-view mirror, UCF will focus on the Conference USA Championship next weekend. Action kicks off April 17 and is being hosted by the University of Houston.
"We are looking forward to proven to some other teams of how good we can be, and hopefully we can surprise some people," said Nickitas. "The ladies have been putting in a lot of work all year and this will be the time to show it off."
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UCF 6, Stetson 1Doubles competition1. Jenny Frisell/Kyla McNicol (UCF) def. Valentina Galbarini/Unnati Purushotham (STET) 8-52. Jennifer Carati/Elvira Serrot (UCF) def. Breanna Atkinson/Katherine Nowicki (STET) 8-73. Kenza Belbacha/Anna Yakimchenkova (UCF) def. Anna Leonenko/Natalie Gorham (STET) 8-2
Singles competition1. Jenny Frisell (UCF) def. Valentina Galbarini (STET) 4-6, 6-5, retired2. Elvira Serrot (UCF) def. Breanna Atkinson (STET) 6-1, 6-43. Kyla McNicol (UCF) def. Unnati Purushotham (STET) 6-0, 6-34. Kenza Belbacha (UCF) def. Megan Jones (STET) 6-1, 7-55. Anna Leonenko (STET) def. Anna Yakimchenkova (UCF) 6-1, 6-36. Jennifer Carati (UCF) def. Katherine Nowicki (STET) 7-5, 6-3
Match Notes:Stetson 13-10UCF 11-8 ="https://ucfknights.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://ucfknights.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://ucfknights.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>