WACO, Texas - A foundational weekend for the No. 22 UCF women’s tennis team came to an end in the final stage Sunday afternoon, falling in the Big 12 Championship match to No. 15 Texas Tech, 4-2.
The lone team to defeat the Knights in the regular season and fellow co-champions, controlled the duel throughout, leaving the Black and Gold with the runner-up position in their second Big 12 tournament in program history.
A pair of early breaks on the front two courts proved to be the difference in a contested doubles point. Texas Tech’s seventh-ranked tandem of Mariia Hlahola and Avelina Sayfetdinova controlled their court-one bout with 41st-ranked Olivia Lincer and Hannah Rylatt, 6-2.
On three, the Knights quickly found the leveler via another dominant display from Olivia Bergler and Jade Psonka, securing a 6-3 win on court three against Andreea Lila and Jermine Sherif, 6-3. Over the freshmen pairing's last two contests, they’ve outscored opponents 12-5, consistently finding the break.
Sophia Biolay and Aya El Aouni’s 12-match winning streak came to an end in the decider, as Kate Dmitrichenko and Hailey Murphy withheld the Knights’ surge late on to take the duel, 6-4, and provide Texas Tech the early advantage.
A more difficult road ahead was now a reality, with UCF needing to grab four points in singles play. The opening sets were split between the two relatively quickly, leading to four points being dispersed.
The Red Raiders doubled their lead with a win on court six, as Sherif got the better of Lincer, 6-2, 6-2. Bergler efficiently picked up the pieces on court six, dominating the tie with consistent pressure on service games, 6-4, 6-3.
Courts three and four fell within seconds of each other, as Psonka’s defeat against Lila was immediately rectified with yet another composed performance from 112th-ranked Biolay on three against Hlahola, 6-2, 6-2.
The Fans’ attention turned towards center court, as Lincer and El Aouni were deep in their second sets. The former was forced into a third after Sayfetdinova broke the Polish native late. With the sites of another three-set decider on court one, the Red Raiders closed the window with the clinching point on two courtesy 96th-ranked Dmitrichenko’s victory over the freshman, 6-4, 6-4.
UP NEXT
Falling just outside the hosting range, UCF will await its destination for the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament next Monday.
Singles Results
- #98 Olivia Lincer vs. Avelina Sayfetdinova (TTU) 6-4, 5-7, 1-0, unfinished
- #96 Kate Dimitrichenko (TTU) def. Aya El Aouni (UCF) 6-4, 6-4
- #112 Sophia Biolay (UCF) def. Mariia Hlahola (TTU) 6-2, 6-2
- Andreea Lila (TTU) def. Jade Psonka (UCF) 6-2, 6-3
- Olivia Bergler (UCF) def. Hailey Murphy (TTU) 6-4, 6-3
- Jermine Sherif (TTU) def. Hannah Rylatt (UCF)
Doubles Results
- #7 Mariia Hlahola/Avelina Sayfetdinova (TTU) def. #41 Olivia Lincer/Hannah Rylatt (UCF) 6-2
- Kate Dmitrichenko/Hailey Murphy (TTU) def. Sophia Biolay/Aya El Aouni (UCF) 6-4
- Olivia Bergler/Jade Psonka (UCF) def. Andreea Lila/Jermine Sherif (TTU) 6-3