No. 18 Women's Tennis Sweeps Cincinnati in Penultimate Match of the Regular SeasonNo. 18 Women's Tennis Sweeps Cincinnati in Penultimate Match of the Regular Season
Jon Rose / UCF Athletics

No. 18 Women's Tennis Sweeps Cincinnati in Penultimate Match of the Regular Season

by Aiden Kocol
Box Score (PDF)

CINCINNATI, Ohio – The No. 18 women’s tennis team dominated from start to finish on Friday afternoon, earning their fifth sweep of the season over the Cincinnati Bearcats inside the Trabert-Talbert Tennis Center.

After earning their 14th doubles victory of the season, the Knights (17-3, 10-2 Big 12) wasted no time taking care of business against the Bearcats (8-13, 1-11), winning all three singles courts in straight sets to secure a 4-0 triumph.

Jantje Tilbuerger and Marina Gatell quickly set the tone in doubles play, dropping just a single point against Cincinnati’s Sakurako Watanabe and Rozalia Gruszczynska. With the Knights holding the edge on the other two courts, it became a race to clinch the advantage, and Olivia Bergler and Lauren Seye ultimately struck first, winning 6-3 on court two to secure the doubles point.

Despite a new singles lineup, the Knights wasted no time finding their rhythm, as Jade Psonka made her debut on court four and earned a double-bagel victory, 6-0, 6-0. Freshman Gatell was quick to follow with 6-2, 6-0 win of her own on court three.

Gatell has been a rock for the Knights all season, improving to 11-2 on court three and clinching five matches. Psonka has been just as effective on the back courts, holding a 10-2 record on court six and now boasting a 12-2 mark across courts four, five and six.

Bergler ultimately delivered the clinch on court two, defeating Gruszczynska in swift 6-2, 6-2 fashion to move the Knights one match closer to their second consecutive regular-season title.

UP NEXT
After making history last season as the first team in UCF Athletics history to win a Big 12 title, head coach Bryan Koniecko and his squad are looking to cement their legacy even further. Now just one match shy of a second consecutive regular-season title, they have a chance to achieve another program first in the Big 12 era.

The Knights now find themselves in a race for the crown with No. 11 Arizona State, as both teams sit at 10-2 with one match remaining, each vying to become the sole regular-season champion. However, a win over West Virginia on Sunday, April 12, would guarantee the Knights at least a share of the title. The match is primed for 10 AM EST. 

SINGLES RESULTS

  1. Gabrielle Guenther (UC) vs Jantje Tilbuerger (UCF) 4-6, 2-3, unfinished  
  2. Olivia Bergler (UCF) def Rozalia Gruszczynska (UC) 6-2, 6-2
  3. Marina Gatell (UCF) def Sakurako Watanabe (UC) 6-0, 6-2
  4. Jade Psonka (UCF) def Tara Kurepa (UC) 6-0, 6-0
  5. Milica Popovski (UC) vs Lauren Seye (UCF) 3-6, 2-4, unfinished
  6. Isabel Pacheco (UC) vs Dontella Guarnieri (UCF) 6-1, 4-2, unfinished

DOUBLES RESULTS

  1. Marina Gatell and Jantje Tilbuerger (UCF) def Sakurako Watanabe and Rozalia Gruszczynska (UC) 6-1
  2. Olivia Bergler and Lauren Seye (UCF) def Gabrielle Guenther and Tara Kurepa (UC) 6-3
  3. Morgan Pyrz and Milica Popovski (UC) vs Jade Psonka and Dontella Guarnieri (UCF) 5-5, unfinished