TAMPA, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – The No. 22 UCF women's tennis team took all six points in the War-On-I4 that were up for grabs against USF on Wednesday afternoon at the USF Varsity Tennis Courts. The Knights downed the Bulls 4-1 to extend their winning streak to 10 matches.
"It was great to get a win for UCF today," head coach Bryan Koniecko said. "Rivalry matches are always fun, and the team handled some tough moments and found a way to win. We have a lot of respect for USF. They fought hard all the way, and it was a good college tennis match."
The Knights (16-2) jumped out front with the doubles point. Silvia Bordes and Rebeka Stolmar topped Juliana Cardoso and Jessica Chaves, 6-4, at No. 2. The upperclassmen duo of Natalia Serrano and Monica Matias put UCF in the lead with a 7-5 win at No. 3 over Alexandria Mjos and Ana Roman.
After USF tied up the match at 1-1, Stolmar, the reigning American Athletic Conference Player of the Week, cruised to a 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 3 over Evelyne Tiron to give the Knights a 2-1 advantage.
Maria Martinez put the Black and Gold within one point of clinching the match with a 6-4, 6-1 victory against Roman at No. 2
Serrano sealed the deal for UCF at No. 6 against Cardoso in straight sets, 7-5, 6-4.
At the conclusion of play, Bordes was rallying from a set down against Nicole Dzenga at No. 5, while Ksenia Kuznetsova was three games away from winning at No. 1.
UP NEXT
UCF will host its final home match of the year on Friday. The Knights will face Rice at 5 p.m. at the USTA National Campus. The Black and Gold will honor seniors Monica Matias, Natalia Serrano, Maria Martinez and Nicole Jiminez on Friday.
THE WAR-ON-I4
With the six points from the match on Wednesday, UCF extended its commanding lead over the Bulls to 36-15. The UCF men's tennis team will get their chance to face USF on April 15 for College MatchDay.
#22 UCF 4, University of South Florida 1
Singles competition
1. Jessica Chaves (USF) vs. Ksenia Kuznetsova (UCF-W) 5-7, 0-3, unfinished
2. Maria Martinez (UCF-W) def. Ana Roman (USF) 6-4, 6-1
3. Rebeka Stolmar (UCF-W) def. Evelyne Tiron (USF) 6-2, 6-2
4.Vanja Klaric (USF) def. Monica Matias (UCF-W) 6-2, 6-0
5. Nicole Dzenga (USF) vs. Silvia Bordes (UCF-W) 7-6 (7-3), 2-4, unfinished
6. Natalia Serrano (UCF-W) def. Juliana Cardoso (USF) 7-5, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Nicole Dzenga/Vanja Klaric (USF) vs. Maria Martinez/Ksenia Kuznetsova (UCF-W) 4-5, unfinished
2. Silvia Bordes/Rebeka Stolmar (UCF-W) def. Juliana Cardoso/Jessica Chaves (USF) 6-4
3. Natalia Serrano/Monica Matias (UCF-W) def. Alexandria Mjos/Ana Roman (USF) 7-5
FOLLOW THE KNIGHTS
Follow UCF Women's Tennis on social media on Facebook (/UCF.WTennis), Twitter (UCF_WTennis) and Instagram (UCFWTennis)
