Feb. 7, 2015
Final Stats
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By Nate Blythe
UCFKnights.com
Results
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (UCFKnights.com) - After starting the season 2-0, UCF pushed four matches to a decisive third set, but came up short in a 4-3 loss to Cincinnati at the Eldon Roark Tennis Center on Saturday afternoon. Sophomore Cortney Cesarini and freshman Monica Matias posted 7-6 and 6-3 final set triumphs, respectively.
The neutral site match contest on four indoor courts dropped UCF to 2-1 on the season, while Cincinnati improved to an even 2-2.
The Knights started off strong by sweeping the doubles competition to take an early 1-0 lead. Junior Caroline Eberhart / freshman Kennan Johnson teamed up at No. 1 to post a 6-3 win. Both tandems at No. 2, juniors Sofia Baptista / Clare Mendell, and No. 3, Cesarini/Matias, notched 6-2 victories.
Cincinnati won a pair of straight-set decisions that placed the Bearcats with a 2-1 advantage.
Cesarini at No. 2 fell 6-4 in the first frame to Katya Bure before registering a 6-0 second-set win to even the match. The third set went into a tiebreaker, which the Bradenton, Fla., native captured.
In the sixth slot, Matias recorded 6-2, 6-3 triumphs in the final two frames after dropping the first 6-1 to Natalia Abdulla.
Tough third-set losses by 6-4 scores were dropped by Baptista and Mendell. Baptista notched a 6-1 victory in the first frame, while Mendell also took the opening stanza 7-5.
UCF looks to bounce back on Sunday at 10 a.m. when it faces Memphis. The Knights return to the UCF Tennis Complex on Wednesday to host Bethune-Cookman at 2 p.m.
Cincinnati vs UCF
Feb 07, 2015 at Memphis, Tenn.
(Eldon Roark Tennis Center)
Cincinnati 4, UCF 3
Singles competition
1. Kelley Poggensee-Wei (CIN) def. Caroline Eberhart (UCF) 6-4, 6-4
2. Cortney Cesarini (UCF) def. Katya Bure (CIN) 4-6, 6-0, 7-6
3. Ali Miller (CIN) def. Kennan Johnson (UCF) 7-5, 6-2
4. Lauren Bellinger (CIN) def. Sofia Baptista (UCF) 1-6, 6-3, 6-4
5. Hannah Willie (CIN) def. Clare Mendell (UCF) 5-7, 6-0, 6-4
6. Monica Matias (UCF) def. Natalia Abdulla (CIN) 1-6, 6-2, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Caroline Eberhart/Kennan Johnson (UCF) def. Lauren Bellinger/Kelley Poggensee-Wei (CIN) 6-3
2. Sofia Baptista/Clare Mendell (UCF) def. Katya Bure/Ali Miller (CIN) 6-2
3. Cortney Cesarini/Monica Matias (UCF) def. Samantha Perry/Hannah Willie (CIN) 6-2