Oct. 12, 2008
WINTER PARK, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - It was a very successful day on the courts for the UCF women's tennis team as it wrapped up action at the Rollins College C.L. Varner Memorial Invitational Sunday. The doubles pairs of senior Elvira Serrot (Madrid, Spain) and freshman Andrea Yacaman (Cartagena, Colombia), along with senior Kenza Belbacha (Casablanca, Morocco) and freshman Christy Core (Charlotte, N.C.), both brought home titles, and Core and freshman Alexis Rodriguez (Boca Raton, Fla.) met in the Flight B singles final during the event.
Before reaching the Flight A doubles championship match, Serrot and Yacaman had to get past Rollins' Margaret Junker and Kayli Ragsdale with an 8-5 win. They then went up against Senka Softic and Ashley Hungerford of Florida Southern, and came away with a close 8-6 triumph and one of UCF's three titles.
Also looking for a first-place crown, Belbacha and Core cruised by Monica Vieth and Mary Crider of Nova Southeastern, 8-1, in the semifinals of the Flight B draw. Even more impressively, the UCF duo did not drop a game in the finals, blanking Rollins' Bradleigh Lore and Allie Steele, 8-0.
UCF also loaded up in the Flight B singles bracket, pushing three Knights into the semifinals. That meant Rodriguez and Belbacha would have to do battle for a spot in the championship, and it was Rodriguez who earned a 6-4, 6-4 victory. Meanwhile, Core needed a come-from-behind win over Armstrong Atlantic's Kathleen Henry, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, to earn the right to play her teammate. In the all-freshman final, Core posted a 6-2, 6-2 decision over Rodriguez, as UCF finished with three first-place performances in the four main flights.
The ITA South Regionals are up next for the Knights. This year's event will be held in Athens, Ga., on Oct. 24-27.
For the latest news on the Knights, log on to www.UCFAthletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. The site, which also contains ticket and Golden Knights Club donor information, is also the home of UCF's new online apparel store. Also visit www.UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.
UCF's Day Three Results at the C.L. Varner Memorial InvitationalTeams: UCF, Armstrong Atlantic, Barry, Florida Gulf Coast, Florida Southern, Hillsborough CC, Nova Southeastern, Palm Beach Atlantic, RollinsFlight B Singles - SemifinalsAlexis Rodriguez (UCF) def. Kenza Belbacha (UCF) 6-4, 6-4Christy Core (UCF) def. Kathleen Henry (AASU) 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
Flight B Singles - FinalsChristy Core (UCF) def. Alexis Rodriguez (UCF) 6-2, 6-2
Flight A Doubles - SemifinalsSerrot/Yacaman (UCF) def. Ragsdale/Junker (RC) 8-5
Flight A Doubles - FinalsSerrot/Yacaman (UCF) def. Softic/Hungerford (FSC) 8-6
Flight B Doubles - SemifinalsBelbacha/Core (UCF) def. Crider/Vieth (NSU) 8-1Lore/Steele (RC) def. Ohlinger/Orletsky (UCF) wd
Flight B Doubles - FinalsBelbacha/Core (UCF) def. Lore/Steele (RC) 8-0 ="https://ucfknights.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="http:>