April 16, 2015
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By Nate Blythe
UCFKnights.com
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TULSA, Okla. (UCFKnights.com) - The 2015 season came to an end on Thursday for sixth-seeded UCF with a 4-0 loss to host No. 3 Tulsa in the quarterfinals of the American Athletic Conference Women's Tennis Championship at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center.
The Knights finished the campaign with a 13-7 record, a significant improvement from last year. The squad is one of the youngest in the league and returns all six starters.
After Tulsa won the first doubles match at No. 3, junior Caroline Eberhart and freshman Kennan Johnson posted a 6-2 victory to tie it up. The Golden Hurricane prevailed at No. 2, 6-3.
Tulsa tallied straight-set wins at No. 2, No. 3 and No. 5 to clinch the match. The Knights did force decisive third sets with second frame wins by juniors Clare Mendell at No. 4 and Sofia Baptista at No. 6.
To open the American Championship, UCF knocked off in-state rival USF for the first time since taking three-straight matches from 2002-04. It was an important win for the young squad after falling in heart-breaking fashion, 4-3, on the road earlier in the campaign.
Freshman Monica Matias, playing primarily at No. 5, completed the season with a 26-5 mark, which tied the second-highest win total in a year with Jing Chen (1995-96) and Itzel Soto-Rosa (1996-97). Classmate Johnson (22-11), who competed at No. 3, tied for the ninth-best win total at 22 with Genevieve Lorbergs,(2012-13), Kristina Lohmos (2001-02), Ann-Jeannette Svantesson and Veronica Widyaharma (1998-99).
UCF vs Tulsa
Apr 16, 2015 at Tulsa, Okla.
(Michael D. Case Tennis Center)
Tulsa 4, UCF 0
Singles competition
1. Ksenia Laskutova (TULSA) vs. Caroline Eberhart (UCF) unfinished
2. R. Lenabanchong (TULSA) def. Cortney Cesarini (UCF) 6-4, 6-3
3. Marcelina Chichon (TULSA) def. Kennan Johnson (UCF) 6-2, 6-4
4. Yelena Nemchen (TULSA) vs. Clare Mendell (UCF) unfinished
5. Saana Saarteinen (TULSA) def. Monica Matias (UCF) 6-1, 6-0
6. Renata Kuricova (TULSA) vs. Sofia Baptista (UCF) unfinished
Doubles competition
1. Caroline Eberhart/Kennan Johnson (UCF) def. Ksenia Laskutova/Renata Kuricova (TULSA) 6-1
2. R. Lenabanchong/Marcelina Chichon (TULSA) def. Clare Mendell/Sofia Baptista (UCF) 6-3
3. Mahitha Dadireddy/Saana Saarteinen (TULSA) def. Cortney Cesarini/Monica Matias (UCF) 6-0
Match Notes:
UCF 13-7
Tulsa 14-10
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (5,2,3)
T-2:48 A-123