WACO, Texas (UCFKnights.com) - The UCF women's tennis team continued its Texas tour with another huge road win. The Knights took down No. 16 Baylor 5-2 on Sunday to earn their second victory over a ranked team this season, following their season-opening win over then-No. 15 South Carolina.
"I'm really proud of the way we handled adversity today," head coach Bryan Koniecko said. "It's never easy playing your first road trip at a great program like Baylor, so we knew we were in for a good match."
UCF (6-1. 1-0) continued its dominance in doubles action to start the night. The Knights rookie duo of Silvia Bordes and Rebeka Stolmar at No. 3 got the ball rolling, sweeping Camilla Abbate and Giorgia Testa of Baylor 6-0.
At the top of the lineup, Maria Martinez and Ksenia Kuznetsova clinched the doubles point against Livia Kraus and Jessica Hinojosa 6-2.
After keeping the Knights undefeated in doubles play, Stolmar continued her undefeated streak in singles play with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Angelina Shakhraichuk at No.3 to earn the second point of the match for the Knights. The Hungarian native has yet to lose in singles this season.
Natalia Serrano would then put the Knights one point away from victory with a straight sets win over Hinojosa, 6-2, 6-4 at No.5.
Bordes clinched the match for UCF with a back-and-forth three set victory over Testa 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 at No.6.
With the win clinched, Martinez finished the night strong for the Black and Gold with a 6-4, 7-6 win at No. 2 to earn the fifth point for the Knights.
"We played a great doubles point and kept on the gas for the first hour of singles play until Baylor made their run," said Koniecko."We were able to learn from our Alabama loss and clean up some things to be able to close them out today. Our team made a jump in their level [of play] in the last 10-12 days and we need to make another one with a little break coming up."
The Bears earned victories at No.1 and No. 4, with Theresa Van Zyl winning 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 over Kuznetsova and Kraus defeating Monica Matias 6-2, 7-6.
The Knights will travel back to Texas in two weeks to face TCU in Fort Worth on Feb. 23 and Texas A&M on Feb. 25.
UCF 5, #16 Baylor WT 2
Singles competition
1. Theresa Van Zyl (BU) def. Ksenia Kuznetsova (UCF) 4-6, 6-2, 6-1
2. Maria Martinez (UCF) def. Camilla Abbate (BU) 6-4, 7-6 (9-7)
3. Rebeka Stolmar (UCF) def. Angie Shakhraichuk (BU) 6-4, 6-2
4. Livia Kraus (BU) def. Monica Matias (UCF) 6-2, 7-6 (7-0)
5. Natalia Serrano (UCF) def. Jessica Hinojosa (BU) 6-2, 6-4
6. Silvia Bordes (UCF) def. #101 Giorgia Testa (BU) 6-4, 4-6, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Maria Martinez/Ksenia Kuznetsova (UCF) def. Livia Kraus/Jessica Hinojosa (BU) 6-2
2. Theresa Van Zyl/Angie Shakhraichuk (BU) vs. Monica Matias/Natalia Serrano (UCF) 4-3, unfinished
3. Silvia Bordes/Rebeka Stolmar (UCF) def. Camilla Abbate/Giorgia Testa (BU) 6-0
Match Notes:
UCF 6-1
Baylor WT 2-4; National ranking #16
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (3,5,4,2,6,1)
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