No. 20 Women's Tennis Handed First Loss of the Season at Florida Atlantic 4-2No. 20 Women's Tennis Handed First Loss of the Season at Florida Atlantic 4-2
Edward Finan / UCF Athletics

No. 20 Women's Tennis Handed First Loss of the Season at Florida Atlantic 4-2

by Alex Clough

BOCA RATON, Florida - For the first time in 2025, the No. 20 UCF women’s tennis team dropped a match, falling to 50th-ranked Florida Atlantic 4-2 on Friday night at the Kimberly V. Strauss Tennis Center.

Having jumped out to the program’s best start in program history with seven-straight wins to open the campaign, the Knights (7-1) couldn’t find their footing in a difficult away match to a strong Owls (6-0) side.

The Knights failed to replicate their winning ways in doubles, falling for the first time in four matches. While jumping out to an early lead on court three via Olivia Bergler and Jade Psonka’s triumph, 6-4, the Owls bounced back with a pair of victories to secure the early advantage.

Sophia Biolay and Aya El Aouni dropped their court one bout before a tiebreaker went Florida Atlantic’s way as Hannah Rylatt and Jantje Tilbuerger were defeated, 7-6(7-4).

Striving to gain momentum, UCF responded as Biolay took care of business on court two against FAU’s Panna Bartha, 6-3, 6-1, to tally her sixth win of the season. An Owls victory on court four would once again be canceled out by Bergler’s third consecutive win on three, defeating Lara Smejkal, 6-3, 6-4.

While El Aouni got pushed to a third set after swiftly jumping out to a lead, FAU took the lead for the second and final time with a result on court five, as Lexi Silna bested Rylatt, 7-5, 6-1. While down a pair of games in her second set, Tilburger gave a valiant effort to push the contest to a tiebreak before eventually falling to the Owls’ Millie-Mae Matthews, clinching the bout for FAU.

UP NEXT

The Knights will look to swiftly get back into the win column on Sunday at home against Penn. The first serve is set for noon.

Singles Results

  1. Aya El Aouni (UCF) vs. Victoria Gomez O’Hayon (FAU) 6-1, 6-7(4), 4-3
  2. Sophia Biolay (UCF) def. Panna Bartha (FAU) 6-3, 6-1
  3. Olivia Bergler (UCF) def. Lara Smejkal (FAU) 6-3, 6-4
  4. Malwina Rowinska (FAU) def. Jade Psonka (UCF) 6-2, 6-2
  5. Lexi Silna (FAU) def. Hannah Rylatt (UCF) 7-5, 6-1
  6. Millie-Mae Matthews (FAU) def. Jantje Tilbuerger (UCF) 7-6(5), 7-6(4)

Doubles Results

  1. Malwina Rowinska/Lara Smejkal (FAU) def. Sophia Biolay/Aya El Aouni (UCF) 6-4
  2. Victoria Gomez O’Hayon/Millie-Mae Matthews (FAU) def. Hannah Rylatt/Jantje Tilbuerger (UCF) 7-6(4)
  3. Olivia Bergler/Jade Psonka (UCF) def. Panna Bartha/Lexi Silna (FAU) 6-4