ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – The UCF women's tennis team put up a tough battle but fell to USF, 4-1, on Saturday evening at the USTA National Campus. After dropping six points, the Knights sit with a 40-26 lead in the War On I-4 rivalry series.
UCF honored the lone senior and captain, Cortney Cesarini prior to the match.
The Black and Gold battled back and forth during doubles. Cesarini and Monica Matias, who are 13-3 on the season, were in a power match on court one. UCF was on-serve 3-4 when the doubles point was decided.
In singles, the Knights were in close contests on five of the six courts. After going down 2-0, Natalia Serrano, who had won her first set, went up 4-1 in the second. USF battled back but Serrano held her composure and secured the victory, 6-4 in the second.
After dropping the first set, 7-5, Elizabeth Bagerbaseh fought back and took the second, 6-2 to force a third. Unfortunately, the Black and Gold dropped two additional matches and USF took the match.
The Knights are now preparing for the American Athletic Conference Championships which are being held at the USTA National Campus. Matches begin Tuesday, April 19 through April 22.
Results
Doubles (3,2)
1). Cortney Cesarini/ Monica Matias (UCF) vs. Vera Bessonova/Olga Martinez (USF), 3-4 unfinished
2). Juliana Cardoso/Jessica Cortes (USF) d. Emilia Granstrom/ Natalia Serrano (UCF), 6-3
3). Nicole Dzenga/ Vanja Klaric (USF) d. Elizabeth Bagerbaseh/ Nicole Jimenez (UCF), 6-1
Singles (6,2,3,4)
1). Monica Matias (UCF) vs. Ana Roman Dominguez (USF), 6-4, 5-5 unfinished
2). Natalia Serrano (UCF) d. Vera Bessonova (USF), 6-4, 6-4
3). Juliana Cardoso (USF) d. Cortney Cesarini (UCF), 7-6 (4), 6-2
4). Vanja Klaric (USF) d. Emilia Granstrom (UCF), 6-3, 7-6 (7)
5). Elizabeth Bagerbaseh (UCF) vs. Jessica Cortes (USF), 5-7, 6-2, 1-1 unfinished
6). Olga Martinez (USF) d. Nicole Jimenez (UCF), 6-0, 6-0
