ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - The 2017 campaign for the eighth-seeded UCF women's tennis team came to a close on Thursday in a tough 4-1 loss to top-seeded Tulsa at the American Athletic Conference Championships quarterfinals at the USTA National Campus.
The Knights finished with a 13-9 mark, earning a spot in the quarterfinals for the fourth consecutive year in The American tournament.
In the doubles competition, Tulsa took the matches at No. 2, 6-0, and No. 3, 6-1, to secure the first point. Senior Cortney Cesarini and junior Monica Matias were tied up 3-3 on court one when the Golden Hurricane clinched doubles
The Cougars pulled ahead with back-to-back victories on court five and court six to go up 3-0.
At No. 2, sophomore Natalia Serrano started quickly with a 6-2 first-set victory. The Barcelona, Spain native, held her ground and pounded out a 6-1 win to keep the Black and Gold in the match.
The Golden Hurricane clinched the match with a 6-0, 6-2 win on court three.
It was the final match for lone senior and team captain Cortney Cesarini. The Lower Gwynedd, PA., native spent four years in the Knights' lineup and finished with nearly 50 dual match singles victories.
Results (Order of Finish)
Doubles (3,2)
1). Cortney Cesarini/ Monica Matias (UCF) vs. Mahitha Dadireddy/Ksenia Laskutova (TUL), 3-3 unfinished
2). Rongrong Leenabanchong/Martha Matoula (TUL) d. Emilia Granstrom/ Natalia Serrano (UCF), 6-0
3). Martina Okalova/Vera Ploner (TUL) d. Elizabeth Bagerbaseh/ Nicole Jimenez (UCF), 6-1
Singles (6,5,2,3)
1). Monica Matias (UCF) vs. Ksenia Laskutova (TUL), 4-6, 4-3 unfinished
2). Natalia Serrano (UCF) d. Rongrong Leenabanchong (TUL), 6-2, 6-1
3). Mahitha Dadireddy (TUL) d. Emilia Granstrom (UCF), 6-0, 6-2
4). Cortney Cesarini (UCF) vs. Martina Okalova (TUL), 3-6, 6-0, 0-1
5). Martha Matoula (TUL) d. Elizabeth Bagerbaseh (UCF), 6-1, 6-0
6). Marcelina Cichon (TUL) d. Nicole Jimenez (UCF), 6-0, 6-0