ORLANDO, Fla.,(UCFKnights.com) — In a span of five days, the UCF women's tennis team (5-1 overall) tallied its second sweep of the season. The Knights defeated Florida A&M, 7-0, at the USTA National Campus Friday afternoon.
"We came out today with good energy and took care of business," said head coach Bryan Koniecko.
It took the Black and Gold only 25 minutes to clinch the doubles point, with matching 6-0 victories on court one and court two. Emilia Granstrom and Natalia Serrano improved their undefeated record to 6-0 at No. 2 doubles, after taking down Sophia Osabouhien and Arrice Robinson. Cortney Cesarini and Monica Matias earned a win against Olivia Rolle and Dominique Henry on the top court.
In singles, Granstrom extended her unbeaten streak to six matches, when she won her match on court three after Henry retired with an illness. The Gothenburg, Sweden native was up 4-0 in the first set when the match ended. The win put the Knights up 2-0 in the match. Matias followed it up with a 6-1, 6-0 victory on the second court. At nearly the same time, Cesarini clinched the match on the fourth court with a 6-1, 6-0 win.
"It was great to see us play well on all six singles courts after a strong start with doubles," Koniecko said. "We look forward to getting back to work on Sunday against Georgia Southern."
Despite the victory being in hand for the Knights, the two teams decided to play out the remaining matches. Elizabeth Bagerbaseh gave UCF its fifth point when she won, 6-0, 6-1, on the fifth court. Serrano was in a close, back-and-forth match on the top court. The Barcelona, Spain native broke Olivia Rolle's serve to go up 4-3 in the first set and never looked back, winning 6-3, 6-1.
Nicole Jimenez was in the last match still being played. On court six, the Miami, Fla., native trailed 3-2 in the first set, before coming back to tie the score at 4-4. The junior continued her momentum and took the first set 6-4. Jimenez secured the sweep for the Knights as she posted a 6-2 second set victory.
The Knights return to the USTA National Campus on Sunday for a match against Georgia Southern. The Eagles enter the weekend with a 3-0 record and take on Stetson on Saturday.
Results (Order of Finish):
Doubles (1,2,3)
1). Cortney Cesarini/ Monica Matias (UCF) d. Olivia Rolle/ Dominique Henry, 6-0
2). Emilia Granstrom/ Natalia Serrano (UCF) d. Sophia Osabouhien/ Arrice Robinson, 6-0
3). Elizabeth Bagerbaseh/ Nicole Jimenez (UCF) d. Karen Machisa/ Kiara Shaw, 6-2
Singles (3,2,4,5,1,6)
1). Serrano (UCF) d. Rolle, 6-3, 6-1
2). Matias (UCF) d. Robinson, 6-1, 6-0
3). Granstrom (UCF) d. Henry, 4-0 ret.
4). Cesarini (UCF) d. Osabouhien, 6-1, 6-0
5). Bagerbaseh (UCF) d. Machisa, 6-0, 6-1
6) Jimenez (UCF) d. Shawn 6-4, 6-2
