No. 20 Women's Tennis Outlast BYU, 4-2, to Advance to the Big 12 Tournament SemifinalsNo. 20 Women's Tennis Outlast BYU, 4-2, to Advance to the Big 12 Tournament Semifinals

No. 20 Women's Tennis Outlast BYU, 4-2, to Advance to the Big 12 Tournament Semifinals

by Pedro Lagoeiro
Live Stats vs Arizona Box Score (PDF) vs BYU Watch Arizona (ESPN+)

ORLANDO – The No. 20 UCF women’s tennis team has advanced to the semifinals after knocking out nine-seed BYU, 4-2, on Thursday, April 16, at the USTA National Campus in a quarterfinal thriller.

Coming off their Big 12 regular-season title, the Knights (19-3, 11-2 Big 12) began postseason play on a high note, winning their sixth consecutive match and their 21st straight at USTA. After getting out to a hot start in doubles play, the Knights secured the victory, battling to the top in a nearly three-hour duel to advance to the semifinal round.

The Knights came out swinging early, claiming the doubles point in an easy two-court fashion. Olivia Bergler and Lauren Seye got things started with a 6-3 win on court two. Shortly after, on court one, Jantje Tilbuerger and Marina Gatell rallied from a 3-1 deficit to clinch a 6-4 victory, sealing the doubles point for UCF. On court three, Jade Psonka and Donatella Guarnieri held a 6-5 lead before their match was left unfinished following wins on courts one and two.

In singles play, Bergler gave UCF a commanding 2-0 lead, taking care of her match on court two in a swift 6-2, 6-3, fashion. The Cougars battled back, though, leveling the match at two apiece with wins on courts four and five. 

Despite that, the Knights' response came quickly as Seye battled to a 6-4, 7(7)-6(1) victory on court six, sealing it in a tiebreak and swinging the momentum back in favor of the Black and Gold.

With everything on the line, the final two Knights, Gatell and Tilbuerger, were locked in third-set battles after each dropped their opening sets. After dropping her first set in a tight 6(3)-7(7) tiebreak, Tilbuerger answered the call against former Knight Grace Levelston, rebounding with a 6-4 victory to push the match into a decisive third—but it was ultimately Gatell on three who delivered under pressure. 

After falling in a tight first set, she flipped the match with authority, powering through for a 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 comeback win to punch UCF’s ticket to the semifinals. The clinch marked Gatell’s sixth of the dual-match season, an impressive feat for the freshman who’s now earned 14 wins to her name.

UP NEXT
The Knights will face four-seed Arizona in the Big 12 Conference Tournament semifinals on Friday, April 17, at 6 p.m. at the USTA National Campus. The Wildcats were one of just two teams to defeat the Knights in Big 12 action this season, handing them a 4-3 road loss back in the beginning of March. 

SINGLES RESULTS

  1.  #115 Jantje Tilbuerger (UCF) vs. #109 Gracie Levelston (BYU) 6-7 (3-7), 6-4, 1-3, unfinished
  2. Olivia Bergler (UCF) def. Kendall Kovick (BYU) 6-2, 6-3
  3. Marina Gatell (UCF) def. Sue Yan Tan (BYU) 5-7, 6-3, 6-4
  4. YuYun Chen (BYU) def. V. Andreevskaya (UCF) 6-4, 6-3
  5. Sage Bergeson (BYU) def. Jade Psonka (UCF) 7-5, 6-4
  6. Lauren Seye (UCF) def. Bella Lewis (BYU) 6-4, 7-6 (7-1)

DOUBLES RESULTS

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