Jan. 29, 2011
Griffith, Ind. - The UIC women's tennis team captured the decisive doubles point, and four singles points, leading to a 5-2 dual-match win over the visiting University of Toledo at the Match Point Tennis Club Saturday afternoon.
"Toledo definitely pushed us today, and it definitely was not an easy match to win," said head coach Shannon Tully. "Winning the doubles point was key, since our singles matches were tight on most courts".
"Linda [Hricistova] and Kathryn [Sharples] did a great job in singles of getting the job done early, while Jana [Knoppe] and Mariya [Kovaleva] really had to dig in to earn their victories. It was a great team effort overall and looking forward to next weekend".
The Flames swept the series in doubles play, winning all three matches and jumping out to a 1-0 lead. Junior Kovaleva paired up with junior Hricistova, to defeat Polina Guimaraes and Alexandra Cristello, 8-2, in the No. 1 doubles position.
To clinch the doubles point, freshmans Knoppe and Sharples defeated Silvia Carvajal and Amanda Border, 9-8 (4). In the No. 2 doubles matchup, senior Ilinca Cristescu and junior Teona Tsertsvadze defeated Ashely Frey and Kelsey Anonsen, 8-6.
In singles play, Kovaleva outlasted the Rockets' Guimaraes in three sets, 7-5, 2-6, 6-4. Sharples (No. 5) and teammate Hricistova (No.6) posted straight-set wins over their opponents Christine Coffman and Rocio Benavent respectively. Knoppe clinched the decisive fourth team point, by defeating her opponent Cristtello in the last two sets, 2-6, 7-5, 6-0.
UIC will take on Wisconsin, Saturday, Feb 5 at the Nielsen Tennis Stadium starting at 3 p.m. CST.
UIC 5, Toledo 2
Singles:
1 Mariya Kovaleva (UIC) def. Polina Guimaraes (UT), 7-5, 2-6, 6-4
2 Ashley Frey (UT) def. Teona Tsertsvadze (UIC), 6-1, 7-6(4)
3 Amanda Border (UT) def. Ilinca Cristescu (UIC), 7-6(4), 6-5 ret
4 Jana Knoppe (UIC) def. Alexandra Cristello (UT), 2-6, 7-5, 6-0
5 Kathryn Sharples (UIC) def. Christine Coffman (UT), 6-2, 6-4
6 Linda Hricistova (UIC) def. Rocio Benavent (UT) 6-2 6-0
Doubles:
1 Kovaleva/Hricistova (UIC) def. Guimaraes/Cristello (UT), 8-2
2 Tsertsvadze/Cristescu (UIC) def. Frey/Anonsen (UT), 8-6
3 Knoppe/Sharples (UIC) def. Carvajal/Border (UT), 9-8(4)
Order of finish:
Singles: 6, 5, 2, 4, 3, 1
Doubles: 1, 3, 2
