ATLANTA - With all seven Knights advancing into later rounds, UCF women's tennis has plenty to be proud of following an exciting week at the ITA Southeast Regionals. Multiple student-athletes garnered their first collegiate wins, while many upperclassman showed their experience with strong performances.
Below are day-by-day live updates from the Peach State:
Monday (Morning): Knights Exit Regionals in Semifinals
Playing in their first tournament together, Hannah Rylatt and Olivia Lincer impressed with a promising run to the final four. Their week ended against Georgia's Aysegul Mert and Guillermina Grant in straight sets, 6-0, 6-4, though their form will be something to look forward to as the fall season continues and into the 2024 dual-match slate.
Sunday (Afternoon): Lincer and Rylatt Advance Into the Final Four
The reigning Big 12 Freshman of the year, Olivia Lincer, paired with an English native hoping to do the same during her first collegiate campaign, Hannah Rylatt, continued their dominating run in the quarterfinals. The tandem bested host Georgia Tech's Alejandra Given and Given Roach convincingly, breaking the duo early and never ceding the advantage, eventually taking the bout, 8-1.
Saturday (Night): Two Knights Secure Place Among Last Eight
With experience and raw talent on display to cap off Saturday's slate, a pair of Knights were victorious over Florida State and continued their strong form into the quarterfinals.
Freshman Jade Psonka bested Juliana Maria Romero in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, which was followed by senior Sophia Biolay bouncing back after a tough first set to eventually prevail against Amelia Bissett, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Saturday (Afternoon): UCF Off to Flying Start in Singles, Doubles Second Round
After five Knights advanced into the round of 32 on Friday, four continued their efforts into the final 16. Olivia Lincer, Aya El Aouni, Jade Psonka and Sophia Biolay were all dominant, with just one dropped set between them.
In doubles, the ninth-seeded tandem of Hannah Rylatt and Lincer rolled over Florida Atlantic's Millie-Mae Matthews and Sara Sarinova, 8-1. Overall, five Knights will be competing in the round of 16 across singles and doubles competition.
Friday (Night): Five of Seven Knights Advance to Second Round
A promising start to the day was capped off by an even better finish, as two more Knights were victorious in their first-round bouts. Five Knights will embark on tomorrow's second round, one of the highest bid shares of any program thus far.
Freshman Jade Psonka notched her second win in Black and Gold with a convincing win over a Mercer foe, 6-3, 6-3. One of the highest-ranked players in the region, Sophia Biolay played the part, knocking off Stetson's Anastasija Adeikyte, 6-3, 6-1.
Friday (Afternoon): Knights Commence Main Draw Action
Following a strong qualifying stage, UCF has already punched three tickets to the second round as the main draw got underway in Atlanta. Olivia Bergler secured her first collegiate win with an impressive straight-set performance over Florida State's Cade Cricchio, 6-3, 6-3. Reigning Big 12 Freshman of the Year, Olivia Lincer, made quick work of the Seminoles' Maelie Monfils, 6-3, 6-0, which was followed by Aya El Aouni's victory over Sofia Madrid of Kennesaw State, 6-4, 6-1.
In the first round of doubles competition, the freshman tandem of Psonka and Bergler got the better of FGCU's Francisca Vergara and Isabella Colmenares, 8-5.
Thursday (Afternoon): Guarnieri and Rylatt Punch Tickets to Main Draw
With five Knights already placed in the main draw, Donatella Guarnieri and Hannah Rylatt were dominant in their lone qualifying match to set up an enticing few days in Atlanta. The former made quick work of Kennesaw State's Izabelle Persoon, 6-4, 6-3, while Rylatt followed suit with triumph over North Florida's Nicole Alfaro, 7-5, 6-4.
Friday will see all seven Knights start their main draw slates in the round of 64.
FULL RESULTS
SINGLES (QUALIFYING)
R1: Donatella Guarnieri (UCF) def. Izabelle Persson (KSU): 6-4, 6-3
R1: Hannah Rylatt (UCF) def. Nicole Alfaro (UNF): 7-5, 6-4
SINGLES (MAIN DRAW)
R1: Olivia Bergler (UCF) def. Cade Cricchio (FSU): 6-3, 6-3
R1: Olivia Lincer (UCF) def. Maelie Monfils (FSU): 6-3, 6-0
R1: Aya El Aouni (UCF) def. Sofia Madrid (KSU): 6-4, 6-1
R1: Xinyi Nong (Miami) def. Donatella Guarnieri (UCF): 6-0, 6-4
R1: Jade Psonka (UCF) def. Marina De Diego Quinones (Mercer): 6-3, 6-3
R1: Valery Gynina (FIU) def. Hannah Rylatt (UCF): 6-2, 6-4
R1: Sophia Biolay (UCF) def. Anastasija Adeikyte (Stetson): 6-3, 6-1
R2: Oyinlomo Quadre (FIU) def. Olivia Bergler (UCF): 6-1, 6-3
R2: Olivia Lincer (UCF) def. Katsiaryne Tuliakova (Stetson): 6-1, 6-2
R2: Aya El Aouni (UCF) def. Taly Licht (GT): 2-6, 6-3, 6-3
R2: Sophia Biolay (UCF) def. Aely Arai (Miami): 6-2, 7-6(7)
R2: Jade Psonka (UCF) def. Hayden Mulberry (UGA): Wo (Inj.)
R3: Victoria Gomez O'Hayon (FAU) def. Olivia Lincer (UCF): 6-3, 6-4
R3: Raquel Gonzalez (Miami) def. Aya El Aouni (UCF): 7-5, 6-2
R3: Jade Psonka (UCF) def. Maria Juliana Parra Romero (FSU): 6-4, 6-4
R3: Sophia Biolay (UCF) def. Amelia Bissett (FSU): 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
QF: Ekaterina Khayrutdinova (FIU) def. Jade Psonka (UCF): 6-0, 6-0
QF: Aysegul Mert (FIU) def. Sophia Biolay (UCF): 6-2, 6-1
SINGLES (MAIN DRAW CONSOLATION)
R1: Given Roach (GT) def. Donatella Guarnieri (UCF): 6-3, 6-0
R1: Hannah Rylatt (UCF) def. Francisca Vergara (FGCU): Wo (Inj.)
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DOUBLES (MAIN DRAW)
R1: Jade Psonka/Olivia Bergler (UCF) def. Francisca Vergara/Isabella Colmenares (FGCU): 8-5
R2: Aysegul Mert/Guillermina Grant (UGA) def. Jade Psonka/Olivia Bergler (UCF): 8-6
R2: Hannah Rylatt/Olivia Lincer (UCF) def. Millie-Mae Matthews/Sara Sarinova (FAU): 8-1
R2: Hayden Mullberry/Sofia Rojas (UGA) def. Aya El Aouni/Sophia Biolay (UCF): 8-7(8)
R3: Hannah Rylatt/Olivia Lincer (UCF) def. Xinyi Nong/Raquel Gonzalez (Miami): 8-6
QF: Hannah Rylatt/Olivia Lincer (UCF) def. Alejandra Cruz/Given Roach (GT): 8-1
SF: Aysegul Mert/Guillermina Grant (UGA) def. Hannah Rylatt/Olivia Lincer (UCF): 6-0, 6-4