Women’s Tennis Stuns BYU, 4-1, in Big 12 OpenerWomen’s Tennis Stuns BYU, 4-1, in Big 12 Opener

Women’s Tennis Stuns BYU, 4-1, in Big 12 Opener

by Ainsley Keaveny
Opens in a new window Box Score (PDF)

ORLANDO – The No. 42 UCF women's tennis team opened Big 12 play in dominant fashion Thursday evening, defeating No. 29 BYU, 4-1, at USTA National Campus. Delivering a confident and powerful performance in their conference debut, the Knights earned their first Big 12 victory of the season.

"We wanted to start Big 12 off the right way. We wanted to start off with energy, we wanted to start off with passion, and I think we did that across all six courts today."

Head Coach Bryan Koniecko

UCF wasted no time seizing control in doubles. On court one, Jantje Tilbuerger and Marina Gatell set the tone for the night with a 6-3 victory over the Cougars. Shortly after, the No. 61-ranked duo of Olivia Bergler and Lauren Seye clinched the point on court two, overpowering BYU’s YuYun Chen and Kendall Kovick, 6-3. 

Over on court three, the pairing of Jade Psonka and Vladislava Andreevskaya was locked in a 5-5 battle against BYU’s Sue Yan Tan and Bella Lewis when the doubles point was decided.  

Seye led the squad into singles with a stunning performance, capturing court five (6-1, 6-0) first for the Knights, extending their lead to 2-0. Psonka kept the momentum going with a 6-3, 6-4 victory on court six, pushing UCF closer to clinching the match. 

BYU responded, though, taking the match on court one where Grace Levelston defeated Bergler 6-2, 6-3. 

Senior captain Tilbuerger sealed the victory for the Knights, defeating Kendall Kovick, 6-1, 7-6 (7-5), to secure UCF’s first Big 12 win of the season. The tiebreak victory gives the Knights a statement win in their Big 12 opener and sends them into the weekend with strong momentum.

UP NEXT
The Knights will be back to work Saturday, Feb 28 at the USTA National Campus, hosting Utah at noon to close out the weekend. 

SINGLES RESULTS

  1. Gracie Levelston (BYU) def. Olivia Bergler (UCF) 6-2, 6-3
  2. Jantje Tilbuerger (UCF) def. Kendall Kovick (BYU) 6-1, 7-6
  3. Marina Gatell (UCF) vs. Sue Yan Tan (BYU) 3-6, 6-2, 2-2, unfinished
  4. V. Andreevskaya (UCF) vs. YuYun Chen (BYU) 6-2, 6-6, unfinished
  5. Lauren Seye (UCF) def. Sage Bergeson (BYU) 6-1, 6-0
  6. Jade Psonka (UCF) def. Bella Lewis (BYU) 6-3, 6-4

DOUBLES RESULTS

  1. 1. Jantje Tilbuerger/Marina Gatell (UCF) def. Gracie Levelston/Karina Mohamed (BYU) 6-3
  2. #61 Olivia Bergler/Lauren Seye (UCF) def. Kendall Kovick/YuYun Chen (BYU) 6-3
  3. Jade Psonka/V. Andreevskaya (UCF) vs. Sue Yan Tan/Bella Lewis (BYU) 5-5, unfinished