No. 20 Women's Tennis Prevails in a 4-3 Duel at BYUNo. 20 Women's Tennis Prevails in a 4-3 Duel at BYU
Conor Kvatek / UCF Athletics

No. 20 Women's Tennis Prevails in a 4-3 Duel at BYU

by Alex Clough
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ORLANDO - Having controlled a three-match homestand from start to finish prior to today’s contest with No. 67 BYU, the No. 20 UCF women’s tennis team prevailed in a different manner as it fended off the Cougars for a dramatic 4-3 triumph. 

Falling in doubles for just the sixth match this season, the Knights (19-2, 11-1) jumped out to early leads over BYU (16-8, 6-5) in what was a back-and-forth singles affair before Olivia Lincer secured her second clinch of the season in a three-set thriller on court one.

While the Knights swiftly took each doubles point during their three-match homestand, the squad tripped out of the gates this afternoon in Utah as the Cougars claimed the early advantage. While Sophia Biolay and Aya El Aouni, playing their first match together in over two weeks, took care of business for the squad’s third consecutive 6-2 win on court two, UCF didn’t find similar fortunes elsewhere.

Olivia Bergler and Donatella Guarnieri’s three-match winning streak came to a close on court three, falling to BYU 6-3. On the front court, 22nd-ranked Sophia Biolay and Hannah Rylatt exchanged blows with Kendall Kovick and Chelsea Bluestein before the Cougars tandem broke late to take the bout 6-4.

Needing an empathic response in singles, the Knights jumped out to first-set leads on five courts, outscoring the Cougars 33-20 in the opening rounds.

Riding her strong run of form at the collegiate level, freshman Olivia Bergler equalized the bout at one-all with yet another episode in a season of dominating victories, defeating BYU’s Bluestein on court four.

The Cougars took the lead straight back moments later as Jade Psonka was handed her first defeat in eight matches, 6-3, 7-6(6) to Sue Yan Tan. Having responded once, two more UCF freshmen propelled the Knights into the lead once again.

On court six, Rylatt tallied her sixth win of the season opposite Madison Smith, 6-3, 2-6, 6-3, in a three-set thriller. While playing 25 games across three sets, El Aouni’s bout on court three against Kovick went 23 games across two sets, with the Moroccan native prevailing a second-set tiebreak to give UCF the advantage, 6-4, 7-6(4).

A pair of front-court third sets made for a dramatic finish in the mountains, with BYU forcing a winner-take-all contest on one after Grace Levelston defeated Biolay, 2-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Leval at five-a-piece, 98th-ranked Lincer battled through a contested third as her teammates watched on meters away. The sophomore and Bobo Huang exchanged blows before Lincer finally broke the Cougar, eventually holding serve to give the Knights a memorable triumph away from home.

UP NEXT

History awaits for UCF just miles north in Salt Lake City as the Knights will face Utah on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET. A win gives the Black and Gold at least a share of the Big 12 regular-season title, the first for any program at UCF Athletics.

Singles Results

  1. #98 Olivia Lincer (UCF) def. Bobo Huang (BYU) 6-3, 5-7, 7-5
  2. Grace Levelston (BYU) def. #100 Sophia Biolay (UCF) 2-6, 6-3, 6-3
  3. Aya El Aouni (UCF) def. Kendall Kovick (BYU) 6-4, 7-6(4)
  4. Olivia Bergler (UCF) def. Chelsea Bluestein (BYU) 6-2, 6-3
  5. Sue Yan Tan (BYU) def. Jade Psonka (UCF) 6-3, 7-6(6)
  6. Hannah Rylatt (UCF) def. Madison Smith (BYU) 6-3, 2-6, 6-3

Doubles Results

1. Kendall Kovick/Chelsea Bluestein (BYU) def/  #22 Olivia Lincer/Hannah Rylatt (UCF)
2. Sophia Biolay/Aya El Aouni (UCF) def. Bobo Huang/Sue Yan Tan (BYU) 6-2
3. Grace Levelston/Elizabeth Tullis (BYU) def. Olivia Bergler/Donatella Guarnieri (UCF) 6-3