No. 25 Women's Tennis Earns 4-3 Road Upset Over No. 12 Arizona StateNo. 25 Women's Tennis Earns 4-3 Road Upset Over No. 12 Arizona State
Conor Kvatek / UCF Athletics

No. 25 Women's Tennis Earns 4-3 Road Upset Over No. 12 Arizona State

by Aiden Kocol
Opens in a new window Box Score (PDF)

TEMPE, Ariz – The No. 25 women’s tennis team earned its first statement win of the season Sunday afternoon, taking down the No. 12 Arizona State Sun Devils in a tight 4-3 victory at Whiteman Tennis Center.

The Knights (10-2, 3-1 Big 12) earned their first top-25 win, while the Sun Devils (10-4, 2-2) were handed their first Big 12 home loss of the season. 

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Although doubles play was tightly contested from start to finish, the Knights landed the first blow as Vladislava Andreevskaya and Jade Psonka secured a 7-5 win on court three to give the Black and Gold early momentum. Arizona State answered right back, though, taking the top court in a tightly contested tiebreaker, 7(7)-6(4), over Jantje Tilbuerger and Marina Gatell.

With the doubles point hanging in the balance, the No. 80 tandem of Olivia Bergler and Lauren Seye delivered. After falling into an early 4-0 hole, the pair mounted an impressive comeback, storming back to take seven of the next eight games. Their 7-5 victory sealed the doubles point and gave the Knights the edge heading into singles.

Despite the advantage in doubles play, Arizona State quickly gained the upper hand in singles action, taking courts one, three, and five to take a 3-1 lead.

Psonka soon swung the momentum back in favor of the Black and Gold with a hard-fought three-set victory on court six. After dropping the opening set 0-6, she regrouped and battled back, taking control of the match by claiming the next two sets 6-3, 6-3.

Andreevskaya soon followed suit, evening the match at three apiece with another gritty three-set performance, battling back to defeat Lily Taylor on court five, 1-6, 6-2, 6-4.

With the match on the line, all eyes shifted to court two, where Tilbuerger had just entered a decisive third set against ASU’s Sara Svetac. The senior captain delivered under pressure, taking control down the stretch and closing out the set 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 to clinch the Knights’ upset over the No. 12 Sun Devils.

Tilbuerger has now delivered the deciding point in all three of the Knights’ Big 12 wins this season. She remains unbeaten on court two at 7-0 and owns an impressive 10-1 record overall in dual matches.

UP NEXT
The Knights return home for a March 13 matchup against the Colorado Buffalo. The Sunday showdown will begin at 6 PM EST.

SINGLES RESULTS

  1. #19 Emilija Tverijonaite (ASU) def. Olivia Bergler (UCF) 6-3, 6-1
  2. Jantje Tilbuerger (UCF) def. Sara Svetac (ASU) 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
  3. Vivian Ovrootsky (ASU) def. Marina Gatell (UCF) 6-3, 7-5
  4. V. Andreevskaya (UCF) def. Lily Taylor (ASU) 1-6, 6-2, 6-4
  5. Aiya Nupbay (ASU) def. Lauren Seye (UCF) 7(7)-6(3), 6-2
  6. Jade Psnoka (UCF) def. Sarang Lim (ASU) 0-6, 6-3, 6-1

DOUBLES RESULTS

  1. Sara Svetac and Vivian Ovrootsky (ASU) def. Marina Gatell and Jantje Tilbuerger (UCF) 7(7)-6(4)
  2. #80 Olivia Bergler and Lauren Seye (UCF) def. Aiya Nupbay and Lily Taylor (ASU) 7-5
  3. V. Andreevskaya and Jade Psnoka (UCF) def. Emilija Tverijonaite and Sarang Lim (ASU) 7-

ABOUT UCF ATHLETICS
UCF is a proud member of the Big 12 Conference. Our mission is to positively transform the lives of our students academically, athletically, and personally through a nationally competitive intercollegiate athletics program that enhances the reputation and visibility of the University. We strive to be Florida's preeminent athletic program, representing UCF and our community with distinction on the national stage as "Orlando's Hometown Team". To learn more about UCF and Athletics, please visit our websites at www.ucf.edu and www.ucfknights.com.