Jan. 15, 2011
EVANSTON, Ill. - The UIC women's tennis team kicked off competition at the Wildcat Spring Invitational Friday in Evanston, Ill., with two rounds of doubles and one round of singles play. Highlighting the day were UIC's newcomers, junior Elisa Simonetti and junior Teona Tsertsvadze, who won singles matches at the respective No. 2 and No. 3 positions.
Simonetti dispatched Florida International's Chrissie Seredni 7-6, 6-3 in the No. 2 singles matchup. Tsertsvadze shadowed her teammate's effort by defeating the Panthers' No. 3 singles performer, 6-4, 6-3. The Flames took four-of the six singles matches against a very competitive FIU team that entered this weekend ranked No. 54 in the nation.
In doubles play, the Flames continued their success, as Tsertsvadze and freshman Kathryn Sharples won their opening match of the tournament, 8-6, over Florida International Liset Brito and Rita Maisak. The Flames then went on to take two-of the other three doubles matches.
UIC came up short in each of its three doubles matches against the host Northwestern, including junior Mariya Kovaleva and Simonetti battling out a tough loss to the nationally ranked duo of Linda Abu Mushrefora and Nida Hamilton.
"For the first matches of the season, we definitely competed well today," said head women's tennis coach Shannon Tully. "Winning four of six singles matches against a strong FIU team definitely shows what we are capable of this season. There were some really positive things that came out of doubles as well, but we still have some work to do there."
The Flames will continue to compete in the Wildcat Spring Invitational Saturday, beginning at 2:45 p.m., against crosstown rival DePaul in doubles play.
UIC Results (Wildcat Invitational, Day One)
Singles:
1. Liset Brito (FIU) def. Mariya Kovaleva (UIC), 6-1, 6-0
2. Elisa Simonetti (UIC) def. Chrissie Seredni (FIU), 7-6, 6-3
3. Teona Tsertsvadze (UIC) def. Maria Spenceley (FIU), 6-4, 6-3
4. Jana Knoppe (UIC) def. Rita Maisak (FIU), 7-6, 4-3 (ret.)
5. Giulietta Boha (FIU) def. Kathryn Sharples (UIC), 4-6, 7-5, 6-0
6. Linda Hricistova (UIC) def. Magali Holt (FIU), 7-6, 6-1
Doubles:
1. Mariya Kovaleva/Elisa Simonetti (UIC) def. Liset Brito/Rita Maisak (FIU), 8-6
2. Giulietta Boha/Maria Spenceley (FIU) def. Linda Hricistova/Jana Knoppe (UIC), 8-5
3. Teona Tsertsvadze/Kathryn Sharples (UIC) def. Chrissie Seredni/Magali Holt (FIU), 8-6
1. Linda Abu Mushrefova/Nida Hamilton (NU) def. Mariya Kovaleva/Elisa Simonetti (UIC), 8-4
2. Maria Mosolova/Elena Chernyakova (NU) def. Linda Hricistova/Jana Knoppe (UIC), 8-2
3. Kate Turvy/Brittany Wowchuk (NU) def. Teona Tsertsvadze/Kathryn Sharples (UIC), 8-3
