WICHITA, Kan. (UCFKnights.com) - The UCF women's tennis team were victorious on the road Sunday at the Genesis Health Club. The Knights took down American Athletic Conference foe Wichita State 4-1 to conclude their record-breaking regular season.
Strong doubles play has been a steady factor in UCF's (18-3, 5-1) success this season, and the trend continued in setting the foundation versus the Shockers (16-6, 1-2).
The Knights earned wins at No. 1 and No. 2 to clinch the opening match point. Oracle/ITA Division I No. 51 doubles pair Maria Martinez and Ksenia Kuznetsova got the day going with a 6-3 win over No. 64 Fatima Bizhukova and Marta Bellucco.
The clincher was had by Silvia Bordes and Rebeka Stolmar, who cruised to a 6-3 win over Ting-Ya Hsu and Giulia Guidetti at No. 2.
UCF would face several tough matches during singles play, but the Knights took the challenge head on and persevered to three wins for the eventual victory.
After Wichita St. took No. 4 to tie the match, Bordes put the Knights back up 2-1 with a win at No. 6. The Spaniard took down Sarvinoz Saidhujaeva in straight sets, 7-5, 6-4.
UCF would put themselves one match away from the win with No. 120 ranked singles player, Stolmar rebounding from a first set loss, to capture a three-set thriller over Giulia Guidetti, 5-7, 6-3, 6-2.
The clincher was had by junior Natalia Serrano, who also battled back after dropping the opening set. Serrano grinded her way to a 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 win over Bellucco at No. 5.
UP NEXT
The Knights will next travel to Dallas to begin the AAC Tournament, beginning April 18.
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#19 UCF 4, #34 Wichita State 1
Singles Competition
1. #56 Fatima Bizhukova (WICH) vs. Maria Martinez (UCF-W) 6-0, 6-7 (6-8), 6-6, unfinished
2. Sandra Honigova (WICH) vs. Ksenia Kuznetsova (UCF-W) 6-2, 3-6, 6-6 (6-6), unfinished
3. #120 Rebeka Stolmar (UCF-W) def. Giulia Guidetti (WICH) 5-7, 6-3, 6-2
4. Gabriela Porubin (WICH) def. Monica Matias (UCF-W) 0-6, 6-3, 6-3
5. Natalia Serrano (UCF-W) def. Marta Bellucco (WICH) 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3
6. Silvia Bordes (UCF-W) def. Sarvinoz Saidhujaeva (WICH) 7-5, 6-4
Doubles Competition
1. #51 Maria Martinez/Ksenia Kuznetsova (UCF-W) def. #64 Fatima Bizhukova/Marta Bellucco (WICH) 6-3
2. Silvia Bordes/Rebeka Stolmar (UCF-W) def. Ting-Ya Hsu/Giulia Guidetti (WICH) 6-3
3. Gabriela Porubin/Sarvinoz Saidhujaeva (WICH) def. Monica Matias/Natalia Serrano (UCF-W) 6-2
Match Notes:
UCF 18-3; National ranking #19
Wichita State 16-7; National ranking #34
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (4,6,3,5)