ORLANDO - The UCF women’s tennis team fought hard, but fell to Wisconsin Sunday afternoon, 4-2.
Wisconsin earned its first point at doubles, despite an impressive 7-5 comeback win from the Knights pairing of Noel Saidenova and Anique Kattenberg against Maria Sholokhova and Alina Mukhortova at court one. Jantje Tilbuerger and Olivia Lincer fought against an early deficit, but later fell 6-3 to Xinyu Cai and Ellison Reynoldson. The Knights battled it out until the very end with Sophia Biolay and Stefani Webb tying their match at 5-5 after trailing 3-0 early. However, they ultimately fell short in the last point, dropping 7-5 to Rosie Garcia Gross and Taylor Cataldi at court three.
The Badgers quickly earned their second point at singles position six, where Kattenberg fell 6-0, 6-4 to Ariel Johnson. Moments later, No. 121 Cai defeated Tilbuerger 6-4, 6-0 at court four to put them within one point of taking the match.
Biolay and Saidenova won the Knights’ two hard-earned points at court two and three, respectively, making the score 3-2. Biolay earned her second win at the second singles position with a 6-3, 6-3 win against Alina Mukhortova. Saidenova picked up her third singles win of the season, a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Cataldi.
At court five, Mihaela Tsoneva made her collegiate debut for the Knights and won her first set in the Black and Gold with a 7-5 first set against Karolina Jacobson. The match went unfinished at 3-3 when Wisconsin clinched the win at court one. Maria Sholokhova took down Olivia Lincer in an entertaining 7-5, 6-2 match, making the score 4-2 for the Badgers.
Wisconsin Women's Tennis 4, UCF 2
Singles Competition
1. No. 68 Maria Sholokhova (WISC) def. Olivia Lincer (UCF) 7-5, 6-2
2. Sophia Biolay (UCF) def. Alina Mukhortova (WISC) 6-3, 6-3
3. Noel Saidenova (UCF) def. Taylor Cataldi (WISC) 6-3, 6-3
4. #121 Xinyu Cai (WISC) def. Jantje Tilbuerger (UCF) 6-4, 6-0
5. Mihaela Tsoneva (UCF) vs. Kaja Jacobson (WISC) 7-5, 3-3, unfinished
6. Ariel Johnson (WISC) def. Anique Kattenberg (UCF) 6-0, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Anique Kattenberg/Noel Saidenova (UCF) def. Maria Sholokhova/Alina Mukhortova (WISC) 7-5
2. Xinyu Cai/Ellison Reynoldson (WISC) def. Olivia Lincer/Jantje Tilbuerger (UCF) 6-3
3. Rosie Garcia Gross/Taylor Cataldi (WISC) def. Sophia Biolay/Stefani Webb (UCF) 7-5
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (6,4,2,3,1)
UP NEXT
The Knights are back in action next Sunday with a doubleheader against North Florida and Bethune-Cookman. The match against the Ospreys kicks off at noon, with first serve against the Wildcats slated for 4:30 p.m. at the USTA National Campus.