ORLANDO – The No. 39 UCF women's tennis team earned a dominating 4-1 win over No. 59 South Florida on Thursday afternoon. The Knights came out strong, clinching the doubles point, and never slowed down, taking all of the singles wins in straight sets.
The Knights started their day off strong, earning the doubles points thanks to huge wins on courts one and two. Nandini Sharma and Noel Saidenova earned a win in their first time playing together this season, a strong 6-2 decision, to move the squad that much closer to the doubles point. Sophia Biolay and Marie Mattel played together on court one for the first time since the match against NC State in early March. The duo found itself down 4-1 early but didn't let that stop them. Biolay and Mattel battled back to take the nailbiter 7-6 (3), clinching the doubles point for the Knights. Jaleesa Leslie and Anique Kattenberg's match on court three was left unfinished, with the Black and Gold leading by a score of 6-5.
Switching gears to singles, Marie Mattel continued on the momentum created by doubles. She took down former AAC Rookie of the Year Sierra Berry on court one in a dominating straight set victory (6-2, 6-2), never letting up the pressure. Anique Kattenberg picked up her second-straight singles win, joining in on the straight set fun. Taking the first set in a close 7-5 decision, the sophomore kicked it into high gear in the second set, earning a 6-1 victory, to strengthen the Knights lead to 3-0.
Senior Nandini Sharma finished the match off with yet another straight set win, marking her sixth-straight singles victory. A strong 6-1, 7-6(2) decision clinched the match for the Knights, who were able to add an additional six points to the War on I-4 race.
The lone point claimed by the Bulls came from court two, where Noel Saidenova fell in a tough 6-3, 6-3 match.
#39 UCF 4, #59 USF Women's Tennis 1
Singles competition
1. #32 Marie Mattel (UCF) def. Sierra Berry (USFW) 6-2, 6-2
2. Laura Pellicer (USFW) def. Noel Saidenova (UCF) 6-3, 6-3
3. Nandini Sharma (UCF) def. Marta Falceto Font (USFW) 6-1, 7-6 (7-2)
4. Sophia Biolay (UCF) vs. Cliona Walsh (USFW) 4-6, 6-0, 2-1, unfinished
5. Jaleesa Leslie (UCF) vs. Ireland Simme (USFW) 4-6, 6-2, 1-1, unfinished
6. Anique Kattenberg (UCF) def. Margriet Timmermans (USFW) 7-5, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Sophia Biolay/Marie Mattel (UCF) def. Marta Falceto Font/Nadja Bay Christians (USFW) 7-6 (7-2)
2. Nandini Sharma/Noel Saidenova (UCF) def. Sierra Berry/Laura Pellicer (USFW) 6-2
3. Jaleesa Leslie/Anique Kattenberg (UCF) vs. Ireland Simme/Cliona Walsh (USFW) 6-5, unfinished
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (1,6,2,3)
UP NEXT
The Knights will play one final match in the regular season on Sunday, Apr. 16. The match against SMU will feature Senior Day festivities, with the celebration set to begin at 11:45 a.m. and a projected first serve time of 12 p.m.