ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - The UCF women's tennis team defeated No. 25 Michigan 4-2 Saturday in front of a record setting crowd at the USTA National Campus in the continued College Matchday series.
A crowd of nearly 1400, a record for the College Matchday series, created an electric atmosphere as the Knights (7-2, 1-0) were able to tame the Wolverines.
"Just honored to be apart of it, to be apart of college tennis history here," said UCF head coach Bryan Koniecko. "The fact that we had so many UCF fans stay at the end of the match for Rebeka's clinch is just awesome and an exciting time for us."
Doubles play opened with Maria Martinez and Ksenia Kuznetsova cruising to a 6-0 win over Kate Fahey and Alyvia Jones at No. 1. Michigan (4-6, 0-0) would earn victories at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles to earn the opening point of the match.
Martinez would continue her strong play leading into singles action. The freshman put the Knights on the board by making quick work of Brienne Minor for a 6-4, 6-1 straight sets victory to even the match at one point apiece.
UCF would continue its winning ways with senior Monica Matias grinding out a 6-1, 7-6 tiebreak win over Jones at No. 4.
The Knights would earn their third point of the match when junior Natalia Serrano bounced back from an opening set loss to dominate the last two sets over Mira Ruder-Hook for a 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 win at No. 5.
Rebeka Stolmar would then clinch the match for the Knights with a thrilling three-set match against No. 51 Chiara Lommer at No. 3. After splitting the first two sets, Stolmar persevered in a grueling back-and-forth third set for a 6-3, 1-6, 7-5 win to seal the victory.
"I think they play with a chip on their shoulder and they're trying to earn respect every day, but we've been telling them how good they are and they are a great team and wins like this obviously solidify that," added Koniecko
Fahey defeated Kuznetsova 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 at No. 1 for the lone singles victory for Michigan.
UP NEXT
The Knights have a quick turnaround, as they welcome American Athletic Conference foe ECU to the USTA National Campus Sunday, March 4 at 11:00 a.m.
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UCF 4, Michigan 2
Singles competition
1. Kate Fahey (MICH) def. Ksenia Kuznetsova (UCF-W) 6-2, 4-6, 6-3
2. Maria Martinez (UCF-W) def. Brienne Minor (MICH) 6-4, 6-1
3. Rebeka Stolmar (UCF-W) def. Chiara Lommer (MICH) 6-3, 1-6, 7-5
4. Monica Matias (UCF-W) def. Alyvia Jones (MICH) 6-1, 7-6 (7-5)
5. Natalia Serrano (UCF-W) def. Mira Ruder-Hook (MICH) 3-6, 6-3, 6-1
6. Silvia Bordes (UCF-W) vs. Bella Lorenzini (MICH) unfinished
Doubles competition
1. Ksenia Kuznetsova/Maria Martinez (UCF-W) def. Kate Fahey/Alyvia Jones (MICH) 6-0
2. Mira Ruder-Hook/Brienne Minor (MICH) def. Monica Matias/Natalia Serrano (UCF-W) 6-3
3. Lera Patiuk/Chiara Lommer (MICH) def. Silvia Bordes/Rebeka Stolmar (UCF-W) 6-1