Jan. 20, 2014
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By Brian Ormiston
UCFKnights.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - Even though it is still January, the spring schedule is now in full swing as the UCF women's tennis team completed the UCF Invitational on Monday.
"Coming back off of the break, because it's been so long since we competed in early November, it really helps to play a tournament format to get some matches under your belt before you step in to a regular dual match," said head coach Stephanie Nickitas. "So we like playing a tournament in January before we get going with the season. It really helps us prepare.
"We definitely got better with each day. We started off a little bit slowly but picked it up and had a good second and third day. I'm happy with where we are at and our progress, so we just need to stay healthy and keep practicing hard."
During day three of the event at the UCF Tennis Complex, the Knights won two of three doubles matches against North Florida. Courtney Griffith and Josephine Haraldson came through with a 6-2 win against Simona Weymar and Rebeca Pereira, while Sofia Baptista and Cortney Cesarini topped Taylor Hollander and Marina Cunningham, 6-3.
The Black and Gold then secured three singles victories vs. Furman, all in straight sets. Haraldson got past Alex Moreno-Kaste, 6-3, 6-4, Baptista defeated Katherine Oudin, 6-4, 7-5, and Clare Mendell cruised by Kelly Sullivan, 6-0, 6-3.
The dual-match season is up next for the Knights, who will travel to Florida Gulf Coast Jan. 25 and Florida Jan. 29. They will then entertain South Alabama on campus Jan. 31 at 2 p.m.
Day Three Results at the UCF Invitational
Singles competition
Josephine Haraldson (UCF) def. Alex Moreno-Kaste (Furman) 6-3, 6-4
Ansley Speaks (Furman) def. Courtney Griffith (UCF) 6-2, 6-3
Sofia Baptista (UCF) def. Katherine Oudin (Furman) 6-4, 7-5
Blair Martin (Furman) def. Cortney Cesarini (UCF) 7-6, 7-6
Clare Mendell (UCF) def. Kelly Sullivan (Furman) 6-0, 6-3
Karlee Bryde (Furman) def. Annika Hepp (UCF) 6-1, 6-2
Simona Weymar (North Florida) def. Nina Nagode (FIU) 6-3, 6-4
Carlotta Orlando (FIU) def. Marina Cunningham (North Florida) 6-4, 6-0
AleksandraTrifunovic (FIU) def. Taylor Hollander (North Florida) 6-2, 6-2
Rebeca Pereira (North Florida) def. Tina Mohorcic (FIU) 6-4, 3-6, 1-0 (10-7)
Giulietta Boha (FIU) def. Michelle Valdez (North Florida) 6-1, 6-2
Quetzali Vazquez (North Florida) def. Valentina Briceno (FIU) 6-2, 6-2
Doubles competition
Courtney Griffith/Josephine Haraldson (UCF) def. Simona Weymar/Rebeca Pereira (North Florida) 6-2
Sofia Baptista/Cortney Cesarini (UCF) def. Taylor Hollander/Marina Cunningham (North Florida) 6-3
Michelle Valdez/Quetzali Vazquez (North Florida) def. Annika Hepp/Clare Mendell (UCF) 6-0
Alex Moreno-Kaste/Katherine Oudin (Furman) def. Tina Mohorcic/Nina Nagode (FIU) 6-2
Blair Martin/Ansley Speaks (Furman) def. AleksandraTrifunovic/Carlotta Orlando (FIU) 6-3
Karlee Bryde/Margaret Boyette (Furman) def. Giulietta Boha/Valentina Briceno (FIU) 7-5
UCF Invitational Winners
Singles Winner: Orlando (FIU) 17pts
Tied for second: Haraldson (UCF) 12pts, Trifunovic (FIU) 12pts
Doubles Winner: Baptista/Cesarini 8pts
Tied for second: Moreno/Oudin (FU) 6pts, Mohoric/Nagode (FIU) 6pts, Speaks/Martin 6pts (FU)