Jan. 22, 2009
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - UCF's dual-match season officially got underway Thursday, as the women's tennis team blanked Florida A&M, 7-0, at the UCF Tennis Complex. The Knights (1-0) gave up a combined five games in doubles while they did not drop a set in singles action to the Rattlers (0-1).
"It was a really good start to the season," said head coach Stephanie Nickitas. "It's nice to be able to play at home for the first time, introduce our new players to our home court and start to get a feel for the dual-match season. We don't play here again until Feb. 13, so we've got a couple of tough matches on the road, but we are looking forward to them. It's always fun to play Florida, Miami and FAU."
Coming off a 2-0 performance together at the FGCU/Johan Kriek Classic last weekend, senior Elvira Serrot and freshman Andrea Yacaman were back at it Thursday, getting past Rachel Pye and Latreece Olagbegi at No. 1, 8-3. Over at No. 2 senior Kenza Belbacha and junior Katie Orletsky cruised by Kathline Durden and Alice Izomor, 8-1, while freshmen Christy Core and Alexis Rodriguez posted an identical 8-1 victory in their match vs. Alexis Brown and Britney Dean.
Holding a 1-0 overall lead, the Black and Gold stretched its advantage quickly on the singles courts. Core surrendered only three games to Izomor in a 6-1, 6-2 triumph at No. 4, and Orletsky also gave up just three games in her 6-0, 6-3 win over Dean at No. 6. Meanwhile, Belbacha grabbed a straight-set win as well, toppling Brown at No. 5, 6-4, 6-2.
Now with the team victory already in hand, Rodriguez made it 5-0 with a 6-3, 6-4 performance at No. 3 vs. Olagbegi, and Yacaman handed Durden a 6-2, 6-3 loss at No. 2. Sealing the shutout, Serrot pushed by Pye at the No. 1 position, 6-4, 6-3.
UCF now gets ready for its longest road trip of the season, playing three-straight matches away from home. The first contest will be a journey to Gainesville to face No. 7 Florida Saturday at 12 p.m.
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Florida A&M vs UCFJan 22, 2009 at Orlando, Fla.UCF 7, Florida A&M 0
Doubles competition1. Elvira Serrot/Andrea Yacaman (UCF) def. Latreece Olagbegi/Rachel Pye (FAMU) 8-32. Katie Orletsky/Kenza Belbacha (UCF) def. Kathline Durden/Alice Izomor (FAMU) 8-13. Christy Core/Alexis Rodriguez (UCF) def. Alexis Brown/Britney Dean (FAMU) 8-1
Singles competition1. Elvira Serrot (UCF) def. Rachel Pye (FAMU) 6-4, 6-32. #70 Andrea Yacaman (UCF) def. Kathline Durden (FAMU) 6-2, 6-33. Alexis Rodriguez (UCF) def. Latreece Olagbegi (FAMU) 6-3, 6-44. Christy Core (UCF) def. Alice Izomor (FAMU) 6-1, 6-25. Kenza Belbacha (UCF) def. Alexis Brown (FAMU) 6-4, 6-26. Katie Orletsky (UCF) def. Britney Dean (FAMU) 6-0, 6-3
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