ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - The wins keep piling up for the No. 22 UCF women's tennis team. The Knights extended their winning streak to 11 Friday on senior night at the USTA National Campus with a 4-0 sweep of No. 44 Rice.
"I thought we played one of our best matches," said UCF head coach Bryan Koniecko. "Rice is really good. They've had some really good results this year. It was tough. It's sad to see your seniors leave, but the team sent them off in the right way and that was the most important thing today."
In what continues to be a record breaking season for UCF (17-2, 4-0), the Knights displayed their dominance versus a Rice (11-7, 0-0) team that had no answers.
The Black and Gold set the foundation for success early once again with strong doubles play to clinch the opening match point.
Senior Monica Matias, playing alongside junior Natalia Serrano, got the ball rolling with a 6-3 victory at No. 3 over Savannah Durkin and Michaela Haet.
After Rice claimed their lone victory on the night at No. 2 doubles, The No. 72 nationally ranked duo of Ksenia Kuznetsova and Maria Martinez put the Knights up 1-0 after an impressive 6-3 win over No. 31 Wendy Zhang and Lindsey Hodge.
Singles play began with Matias earning her second win of the night, this time taking down Anna Bowtell, 6-3, 6-2 at No. 4.
Kuznetsova would follow suit in straight sets over Lindsey Hodge at No. 1. The Spaniard put the Knights on the brink of victory with a 6-1, 6-2 win.
The clincher came at No. 3, when Rebeka Stolmar captured her team leading 17th singles victory. The freshman was victorious over Haet, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3.
UP NEXT
The Knights will now hit the road for a pair of American Athletic Conference matches. UCF will first travel to Oklahoma to take on Tulsa April 13 in a 5 p.m. match, then head to Kansas to face Wichita St. two days later in a noon contest.
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#22 UCF 4, #44 Rice 0
Singles Competition
1. Ksenia Kuznetsova (UCF-W) def. Lindsey Hodge (RICEW) 6-1, 6-2
2. Maria Martinez (UCF-W) vs. #119 Wendy Zhang (RICEW) unfinished
3. Rebeka Stolmar (UCF-W) def. Michaela Haet (RICEW) 7-6 (7-4), 6-3
4. Monica Matias (UCF-W) def. Anna Bowtell (RICEW) 6-3, 6-2
5. Silvia Bordes (UCF-W) vs. Savannah Durkin (RICEW) unfinished
6. Natalia Serrano (UCF-W) vs. Priya Niezgoda (RICEW) unfinished
Doubles Competition
1. #72 Ksenia Kuznetsova/Maria Martinez (UCF-W) def. #31 Wendy Zhang/Lindsey Hodge (RICEW) 6-3
2. Fernanda Astete/Priya Niezgoda (RICEW) def. Silvia Bordes/Rebeka Stolmar (UCF-W) 6-4
3. Monica Matias/Natalia Serrano (UCF-W) def. Savannah Durkin/Michaela Haet (RICEW) 6-3
Match Notes:
UCF 17-2; National ranking #22
Rice 11-7; National ranking #44
Order of Finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (4,1,3)