ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - The UCF women's tennis team secured its spot in the quarterfinals of the American Athletic Conference Championship with a 4-0 victory over Houston at the USTA National Campus on Wednesday afternoon.
The No. 8 Knights (13-8) will take on top-seeded Tulsa on Thursday at noon.
Ninth-seeded Houston, unable to fulfill its playing roster, was forced to default from court three of doubles, and courts five and six in singles. The Knights began the match with a 2-0 advantage.
Cortney Cesarini and Monica Matias posted a 6-3 win on the top doubles court to clinch the doubles point and go up 3-0.
The Black and Gold took the first set at No. 1 and No. 4 singles. It was then a race to the finish. Cesarini was up 5-0 but Houston's Constandena Nicolaou took a game away. With the seventh game on the line at 40-40, Cesarini used a strong backhand volley to win the match for the Black and Gold.
The Knights take on Tulsa on Thursday afternoon. Earlier this season, the Knights dropped a close 4-3 decision to the Golden Hurricane. Last season, the Knights fell to Houston, 4-0 in the quarterfinals.
Results (Order of Finish)
Doubles (3,1)
1). Cortney Cesarini/ Monica Matias (UCF) d. Lauren Alter/Sveva Mazzari (UH), 6-3
2). Emilia Granstrom/ Natalia Serrano (UCF) vs. Constandena Nicolaou/Ana Glumac(UH), 3-4 unfinished
3). Elizabeth Bagerbaseh/ Nicole Jimenez (UCF) d. No Player/No Player (UH), Won by Forfeit
Singles (5,6,4)
1). Monica Matias (UCF) vs. Sveva Mazzari (UH), 6-0, 5-5
2). Natalia Serrano (UCF) vs. Lauren Alter (UH), 1-6, 6-3, unfinished
3). Emilia Granstrom (UCF) vs. Ana Glumac (UH), 6-6 unfinished
4). Cortney Cesarini (UCF) d. Constandena Nicolaou (UH), 6-2, 6-0
5). Elizabeth Bagerbaseh (UCF) d. No Player (UH), Won by Forfeit
6). Nicole Jimenez (UCF) d. No Player (UH), Won by Forfeit