No. 20 Women’s Tennis Hosts Stetson and Air Force in Friday DoubleheaderNo. 20 Women’s Tennis Hosts Stetson and Air Force in Friday Doubleheader
Edward Finan / UCF Athletics

No. 20 Women’s Tennis Hosts Stetson and Air Force in Friday Doubleheader

by Nicolas Hernandez

ORLANDO - Showing no signs of stopping, the No. 20 UCF women's tennis team looks to continue their unbeaten run this Friday in a Valentine's Day doubleheader at home against Stetson and Air Force.

The Knights (5-0) will hope to replicate their 4-0 masterclass from last Sunday against South Florida. UCF will play the Hatters (6-1) first at noon before taking on the Falcons (4-3) at 6 p.m.

This will be the first twin bill for the women's tennis team this campaign as wins against both would stretch their perfect start to the season to seven straight wins.

LAST TIME OUT

UCF left little margin for error in Tampa against South Florida, pocketing its first sweep of the season on Sunday. Scoring with only straight sets in singles play, the Knights gave up just 10 out of 47 games on courts two, three and four.

Olivia Lincer and Sophia Biolay suffocated the Bulls with a combined trio of 6-0 shutouts. Lincer made quick work of her court two bout, finishing 6-0, 6-0. Biolay was able to find her stride on court three after a tight first set, 7-5, 6-0. The win put the Knights at a 5-0 record this season, maintaining the number 20 spot in this week's ITA rankings.

QUICK HITS

  • The Knights have yet to lose a match on court five this season with four straight wins. Jade Psonka makes up for half of these, winning 6-0, 6-4 against Columbia and 7-6, 6-0 against FIU.
  • The doubles pairings for UCF are playing in perfect harmony at the moment. Aya El Aouni and Lincer will hope to double their two-match win streak together this Friday along with Olivia Bergler and Biolay. The duos have equaled each other's results, winning 6-1 against FIU and 6-3 against USF.
  • Coming in at 102 in the ITA rankings, super senior Biolay is one of four Knights to stand at four wins. As the only Knight to play in and finish every match available to her this year, she currently carries a 4-1 singles record and a 3-2 doubles record.

THE OPPONENTS

Stetson

The Hatters have also had a dominant start to the season, recovering from a 3-4 loss in their season opener to reach a 6-1 record so far. Stetson will face UCF after winning a doubleheader of their last weekend, beating FAMU, 5-2, and sweeping Bethune-Cookman, 7-0.

Stetson's only win away from home this season also came against Bethune-Cookman in another 7-0 sweep. The last time they faced the Knights ended in a 4-3 loss in Orlando.

Air Force

The match against UCF will kick off a three-day tour across Florida for the Falcons. Facing their fifth consecutive away game, the Falcons will meet the Knights with a 4-3 record this season. 

Last weekend featured a mixed bag of results for the team from Colorado, thrashing Eastern Washington in a 7-0 victory, only to fall to Gonzaga just 24 hours later, 3-4.