Feb. 13, 2011

Griffith, Ind.- The women's tennis team opened up play on Saturday, with a victory over Southern Illinois at the Match Point Tennis Club Saturday afternoon, 4-1.

The tandem of juniors Mariya Kovaleva and Linda Hricistova, won their sixth match together over SIU's Melanie Delsart and Jennifer Dien in the No. 1 doubles position, 8-1. To secure the doubles point for the Flames were senior Ilinca Cristescu and junior Teona Tsertsvadze, defeating SIU's Anastacia Simons and Korey Love, 8-2. The match didn't finish in the No. 3 doubles matchup, because both teams decided to play until the point was decided.

Junior Tsertsvadze won her singles matchup first in the No. 2 position, over Dien from SIU in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2. Freshman Jana Knoppe recorded her fifth win of the season over SIU's Anastacia Simons in the fourth position, 6-2, 6-2. Since the No. 6 singles position was considered default already, junior Hricistova defeated SIU's Viskakha Sheoran to secure the match for the Flames.

No. 1 and No. 3 singles were stopped once the Flames recorded the fourth point, because both coaches decided to cut the match short because of the long day.

UIC will take on visitors from Chicago State beginning at 3 p.m., to conclude this weekend home stand for the Flames.

UIC 4, SIU 1
Singles:
1. Mariya Kovaleva (UIC) vs. Melanie Delsart (SIU), 6-4, 3-2, DNF
2. Teona Tsertsvadze (UIC) def. Jennifer Dien (SIU), 6-2, 6-2
3. Ilinca Cristescu (UIC) vs. Anita Lee (SIU), 3-6, 2-1, DNF
4. Jana Knoppe (UIC) def. Anastacia Simons (SIU), 6-2, 6-2
5. Korey Love (SIU) def. Kathryn Sharples (UIC), 6-2, 6-0
6. Linda Hricistova (UIC) def. Vishakha Sheoran (SIU), Default

Doubles:
1. Kovaleva/Hricistova (UIC) def. Delsart/Dien (SIU), 8-1
2. Cristescu/Tsertsvadze (UIC) def. Simons/Love (SIU), 8-2
3. Sharples/Knoppe (UIC) vs. Sheoran/Lee (SIU), 5-5, DNF

Order of FinishSingles:2,4,5
Doubles: 1,2