ORLANDO - The No. 20 UCF women’s tennis team concluded non-conference play in brilliant fashion, defeating Penn 6-1 Sunday afternoon at the USTA National Campus.
The Knights (8-1) authored a full display across doubles and singles, propelling the squad over a difficult Quakers (4-5) side and back into the win column ahead of Big 12 Conference play.
⚔️ KNIGHTS WIN ⚔️@Big12Conference 🆙 Next pic.twitter.com/Hb4B6DF5D2
— UCF Women's Tennis (@UCF_WTennis) February 23, 2025
A nearly hour-long doubles point set the tone for what was a contested match. While Olivia Bergler and Jade Psonka swiftly handled business on court three with their second-consecutive win, 6-2, the Quakers would respond with a victory of their own on one, 6-4.
Having opened up a 5-3 lead on court two, Hannah Rylatt and Jantje Tilbuerger suffered three-straight defeats to set up a must-break situation down 5-6. The tandem delivered, eventually carrying the momentum into a dominating tiebreak, sweeping Penn, 7-6(0).
In singles, the Black and Gold grabbed five first sets to take firm control of the contest. The lone defeat came on court six, as Tilbuerger was forced to retire in the second.
The wins would begin to pour in for UCF, with Sophia Biolay tallying yet another convincing straight-set triumph on court two over Eileen Wang, 6-2, 6-2. It would serve as the second and final time the Knights would have to take the lead, with Jade Psonka getting back into the win column on four, 6-1, 6-2, to double the advantage.
Jade is back in the win column on 4️⃣ (6-1, 6-2)‼️
— UCF Women's Tennis (@UCF_WTennis) February 23, 2025
UCF 3-1 Penn pic.twitter.com/SSLz6TONef
Olivia Bergler continued her winning ways, showing great composure on court three to fend off any attack from Lara Stojanovski en route to her 6-3, 6-3, triumph and fourth clinch of the campaign. With two freshmen already securing their courts, Rylatt and El Aouni followed.
On court five, Rylatt disposed of Liza Tkachenko 6-4, 6-3, before El Aouni secured a ranked win over No. 57 Esha Velaga on one in a three-set bout, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1.
UP NEXT
A nearly two-month-long conference slate awaits for the squad as the Knights will journey to Kansas State on Friday, February 28, and No. 16 Oklahoma State on Sunday, March 2, to commence Big 12 action.
Singles Results
1. #122 Aya El Aouni (UCF) def. #57 Esha Velaga (Penn) 6-2, 3-6, 6-1
2. #98 Sophia Biolay (UCF) def. Eileen Wang (Penn) 6-2, 6-2
3. Olivia Bergler (UCF) def. Lara Stojanovski (Penn) 6-3, 6-3
4. Jade Psonka (UCF) def. Gavriella Smith (Penn) 6-1, 6-2
5. Hannah Rylatt (UCF) def. Liza Tkachenko (Penn) 6-4, 6-3
6. Maya Urata (Penn) def. Jantje Tilbuerger (UCF) 6-2, 1-0, retired
Doubles Results
1. Eileen Wang/Esha Velaga (Penn) def. Sophia Biolay/Aya El Aouni (UCF) 6-4
2. Hannah Rylatt/Jantje Tilbuerger (UCF) def. Lara Stojanovski/Gavriella Smith (Penn) 7-6(0)
3. Olivia Bergler/Jade Psonka (UCF) def. Liza Tkachenko/Maya Urata (Penn) 6-2