ORLANDO, Fla. – The UCF women's tennis team fought hard despite being down a player but fell to No. 2 Oklahoma with a score of 5-2 on Friday, February 25, in Orlando, Florida at the USTA National Campus.
The Knights' earned a pair of upsets in singles action as Marie Mattel and Noel Saidenova each took down their highly ranked opponents.
Oklahoma was able to clinch the doubles point but not without a fight from the Knights. UCF started down with a forfeit on court three. On court one Evgeniya Levashova and Marie Mattel went up against the No. 4 doubles team in the nation of Carmen Corley and Ivana Corley, and they did not back down. The Knights found some momentum, but were unable to hold on as they fell, 6-3, which clinched the doubles point for the Sooners.
On court two, Sophia Biolay and Nandini Sharma were facing No. 25 Alexandra Pisareva and Layne Sleeth, but the match went unfinished 5-3.
In singles play, court six went to the Sooners with a win by forfeit to lead 2-0 early. Then Sophia Biolay fell to Anchisa Chanta on court four by a score of 3-6, 4-6.
On court one, No. 61 Evgeniya Levashova had a strong first set against No. 14 Layne Sleeth, but dropped the match, 6-7(3), 0-6, as the Sooners clinched the match. But more tennis was to be played.
Nandini Sharma forced a third set against Alexandra Pisareva on court five, but her comeback fell short in the super tie break as she lost by a score of 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-10.
Two courts remained fighting against highly ranked opponents.
Despite dropping the first set, No. 114 Marie Mattel made an incredible comeback against No. 34 Carmen Corley on court three to get the upset in 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, giving the Knights' their first point.
Noel Saidenova fed off the energy as she also took down No. 38 Ivana Corley in three sets on court four. Saidenova opened up with a 6-2 win in set one but dropped the second 4-6. The two battled to the very end with all eyes on them and Saidenova was able to get the edge to win the match, 6-2, 4-6, 7-6(8).
POST-MATCH COMMENTS:
Head coach Bryan Koniecko
[On Noel's win]
Anytime you get a win as a freshman when you are trying to build and get better is great. Her opponent was ranked, and Noel was down 4-1 in both sets but came back and found a way. That was the most important thing. She didn't go away and as a freshman that is difficult to be able to fight through the whole time. She did an incredible job, we are proud of her and hopefully it gives her some confidence in the future.
UP NEXT
The Knights stay home for another ranked matchup against No. 17 Baylor on Sunday, February 27.
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