MIAMI, Fla. – The UCF women's tennis team concluded competition at the ITA Southeast Regional Championships on Tuesday afternoon, highlighted by Jantje Tilbuerger and Marta Makarova's runner-up finish in doubles and a pair of singles quarterfinal appearances. The Knights combined for 16 victories throughout the tournament, held Oct. 7-13 at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center.
Tilbuerger and Makarova led the way for the Black and Gold, winning five consecutive doubles matches to reach the championship. The duo also found success individually, with both Knights earning three singles victories to advance to the quarterfinals.
Day 1 - Thursday, Oct. 8
Jade Psonka opened the tournament for the Knights in Thursday's qualifying round, defeating Mercer's Sofiya Tsitavets, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2, to secure her spot in the main draw alongside her four teammates.
Thursday Results
Jade Psonka (UCF) def. Sofiya Tsitavets (Mercer) 7-6 (7-5), 6-2
Day 2 - Friday, Oct. 9
The Knights opened main draw singles competition with a perfect 5-0 record, advancing all five players into the round of 32.
Makarova and Bergler led the way with dominant straight-set victories over North Florida and Florida State, respectively. Psonka continued her momentum from qualifying with a 6-1, 6-4 win over FIU, while Andreevskaya battled back from a set down to defeat South Florida in three sets. Tilbuerger rounded out singles play with a hard-fought 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7-2) victory over Florida State.
In doubles action, Tilbuerger and Makarova opened their campaign with a commanding 8-0 victory over Stetson to advance to the round of 32.
Friday Results
Vladislava Andreevskaya (UCF) def. Zoe Lazar (USF) 5-7, 6-2, 6-3
Olivia Bergler (UCF) def. Laura Putz (FSU) 6-1, 6-2
Jade Psonka (UCF) def. Vittoria Baccino (FIU) 6-1, 6-4
Marta Makarova (UCF) def. Aryana Bartlett (UNF) 6-0, 6-2
Jantje Tilbuerger (UCF) def. Ariana Gilbert (FSU) 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7-2)
Jantje Tilbuerger/Marta Makarova (UCF) def. Lena Karolina Hornecka/Alissia Aleksandra Kivi (Stetson) 8-0
Day 3 - Saturday, Oct. 10
Saturday brought another strong showing for the Knights, with three players advancing to the singles round of 16.
Psonka continued her impressive run with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over South Florida, while Tilbuerger earned a straight-set win over Kennesaw State, 6-4, 6-2. Makarova battled through three sets against Georgia Southern, securing a 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 victory.
Bergler and Andreevskaya saw their singles campaigns conclude in the round of 32, falling to Florida and Florida Atlantic, respectively.
Later in the day, Makarova recorded one of UCF's most notable singles victories of the tournament, defeating No. 30 Gabia Paskauskas of Florida, 7-6 (7-4), 6-1, to advance to the quarterfinals. Tilbuerger followed with a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Miami to join her teammate in the final eight. Psonka's run concluded in the round of 16 against Georgia's Bella Payne.
In doubles play, Tilbuerger and Makarova continued their winning streak with an 8-6 victory over Georgia, while Bergler and Andreevskaya fell to Mercer, 8-4, after receiving a first-round bye.
Saturday Results
Jade Psonka (UCF) def. Sienna Leeson (USF) 6-1, 6-3
Marta Makarova (UCF) def. Evelyn Warkentin (Georgia Southern) 6-2, 2-6, 6-2
Jantje Tilbuerger (UCF) def. Ema Baraniakova (KSU) 6-4, 6-2
Malwina Rowinska (FAU) def. Vladislava Andreevskaya (UCF) 6-3, 6-0
Nikola Daubnerova (UF) def. Olivia Bergler (UCF) 7-5, 6-4
Marta Makarova (UCF) def. Gabia Paskauskas (UF) 7-6 (7-4), 6-1
Jantje Tilbuerger (UCF) def. Anna Perelman (Miami) 7-5, 6-4
Bella Payne (UGA) def. Jade Psonka (UCF) 6-3, 6-2
Jantje Tilbuerger/Marta Makarova (UCF) def. Ava Rodriguez/Deniz Dilek (UGA) 8-6
Tea Zivic/Sofiya Tsitavets (Mercer) def. Olivia Bergler/Vladislava Andreevskaya (UCF) 8-4
Day 4 - Sunday, Oct. 11
The Knights returned to competition Sunday with Tilbuerger and Makarova representing UCF in the singles quarterfinals. Makarova fell to Georgia's Emma Dong, 6-2, 6-2, while Tilbuerger pushed the second set to a tiebreak before falling to Georgia's Patricija Paukstyte, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4).
Despite the conclusion of singles play, the duo kept the Knights' championship hopes alive in doubles.
Tilbuerger and Makarova opened the day with an 8-4 victory over FIU to advance to the quarterfinals, setting up a matchup against Florida's nationally sixth-ranked doubles pair of Brooke Black and Valery Gynina.
In a tightly contested battle, the Knights outlasted the Gators, 8-7 (7-5), to secure their fourth consecutive doubles victory and a spot in the semifinals.
Sunday Results
Emma Dong (UGA) def. Marta Makarova (UCF) 6-2, 6-2
Patricija Paukstyte (UGA) def. Jantje Tilbuerger (UCF) 6-2, 7-6 (7-4)
Jantje Tilbuerger/Marta Makarova (UCF) def. Jelena Vico/Aleksandra Simeva (FIU) 8-4
Jantje Tilbuerger/Marta Makarova (UCF) def. No. 6 Brooke Black/Valery Gynina (UF) 8-7 (7-5)
Day 5 - Monday, Oct. 12
With a spot in the doubles championship on the line, Tilbuerger and Makarova faced Miami's Jaquelyn Ogunwale and Berrak Kocak in Monday's semifinal.
The duo claimed a tightly contested opening set in a tiebreak before dropping the second, forcing a 10-point match tiebreak to decide the winner.
The Knights responded when it mattered most, securing a 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, [10-7] victory to advance to the championship match and extend their doubles winning streak to five.
Monday Results
Jantje Tilbuerger/Marta Makarova (UCF) def. Jaquelyn Ogunwale/Berrak Kocak (Miami) 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, [10-7]
Day 6 - Tuesday, Oct. 13
Tilbuerger and Makarova returned to the court Tuesday afternoon for the doubles championship, facing Georgia's Emma Dong and Ranah Stoiber.
After a competitive opening set, the Bulldogs pulled away to claim the title, 7-5, 6-0, bringing the Knights' impressive five-match winning streak to an end.
The duo concluded the tournament as doubles runners-up, while UCF finished the regional championships with an 11-5 singles record, including qualifying, and a 5-2 doubles record.
Tuesday Results
Emma Dong/Ranah Stoiber (UGA) def. Jantje Tilbuerger/Marta Makarova (UCF) 7-5, 6-0
UP NEXT
The Knights will return to competition Oct. 23-25, traveling to Rome, Georgia, for the Rome Tennis Center Collegiate Invite at the Rome Tennis Center at Berry College.
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.