April 18, 2011

INDIANAPOLIS- The UIC women's tennis team showcased once a again why the Flames are the class of the Horizon League with a convincing sweep of the host Butler Sunder afternoon, 7-0.

"I was very proud of the team's performance today," said head coach Shannon Tully. "Our new doubles pairs really made a difference, and Jana {Knoppe} and Linda {Hricistova} set a good tone by winning a quick, decisive match at third doubles. As it was only our second match outside, we had to iron out some rough spots, but everyone stepped it up and closed out some big matches. It's always rewarding to see a total team effort and a solid victory against a strong team. We are looking forward to defending our title next weekend."

UIC (16-4, 8-0 HL) took all three doubles matches from the host Bulldogs. Junior Hricistova and freshman Knoppe took the match to BU's Natali Jaimes and Angelina Qin from the start and winning, 8-2. Juniors Mariya Kovaleva and Elisa Simonetti clinched the doubles point defeating BU's Stephanie McLoughlin and Gabriella Rubenstein, 8-5.

The Flames carried the momentum from doubles to the singles side of competition. UIC won all six singles matches and four of those matches in straight sets, and the other two matches going to a decisive third set winner. Simonetti secured the match win for the Flames when she took down BU's Bobrowski, 6-2, 6-4.

Ilince Cristescu has recorded her 82nd all-time singles match victory today, and is one victory away from tying and two wins away from becoming the all-time singles wins leader at UIC. The senior is also still a perfect 37-0 versus Horizon League opponents, and the Flames have now won 131 consecutive conference matches to date.

The Flames clinched the No. 1 seed in next weekend Horizon League Championships held at North Central High School, and will have a first round bye going into the tournament.

UIC 7, BU 0
Singles:
1. Mariya Kovaleva (UIC) def. Natali Jaimes (BU), 6-4, 6-3
2. Teona Tsertsvadze (UIC) def. Caroline Hedrick (BU), 6-3, 1-6, 6-1
3. Ilinca Cristescu (UIC) def. Stephanie McLoughlin (BU), 7-6, 1-6, 1-0
4. Elisa Simonetti (UIC) def. Gabriella Bobrowski (BU), 6-2, 6-4
5. Jana Knoppe (UIC) def. Gabriella Rubenstein (BU), 6-3, 6-2
6. Linda Hricistova (UIC) def. Brittany Farmer (BU), 3-6, 6-2, 6-0

Doubles:
1. Kovaleva/Simonetti (UIC) def. McLoughlin/Rubenstein (BU), 8-5
2. Cristescu/Tsertsvadze (UIC) def. Bobrowski/Farmer (BU), 8-7 (4)
3. Knoppe/Hricistova (UIC) def. Jaimes/Qin (BU), 8-2

Order of Finish
Singles: 5, 1, 4, 6, 3, 2
Doubles: 3, 1, 2