Sept. 24, 2011
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The UIC women's tennis team completed the first day of competition at the Spartan Invitational Friday at the MSU Tennis Courts in East Lansing, Mich. Freshman Haley Craig (Olathe, Kan./South Olathe) was undefeated on the day as the won two singles matches and a doubles match.
"We had a lot of great matches today at Michigan State," head coach Shannon Tully said. "We lost some close ones that I thought should have gone our way, but I think that is part of our first weekend of competition in the season. I saw some positives with our new double teams. Haley Craig stepped up and finished the day 3-0. She is now focusing on competing well during the semifinals round tomorrow."
The Flames posted a 6-6 record in singles play and a 2-1 outcome in doubles on the first day of competition.
Craig downed Hillary Hager of Michigan State, 6-2, 6-4, followed by consecutive 6-3 sets over Marquette's Rocio Diaz.
Junior Elisa Simonetti (La Spezia, Italy/Schiller) picked up the first set, 6-4 over M. Brown (Louisville), before dropping the second, 4-6 and closed out the match with a 10-8 win to secure the match. Sophomore Jana Knoppe (Ihringen, Germany/Martin Schongauer Gymnasium) defeated Katarina Lingl of Michigan State, 6-1, 6-2.
Sophomore Kathryn Sharples (Stewkley, England/St. Pauls) and senior Linda Hricistova (Zlin, Czech Republic/Private Business) both won in their respective matches. Sharples defeated Kritina Radan of Marquette, while Hricistova downed Jennifer Yen (Michigan State) in straight sets, 6-2, 6-0.
Moving into doubles action, senior Mariya Kovaleva (Almaty, Kazakastan/School #55) and Craig defeated Amy Barton and Julianne Gruber of Michigan State in an 8-6 score. Knoppe and Hricistova downed Ana Pimienta and Kristina radan (Marquette), 8-6.
The Flames continue the Spartan Invitational Saturday. Check back to UICFlames.com for complete results and a recap of the action.
COMPLETE UIC RESULTS
Draw A Singles
Shkundina (Ak) def.Mariya Kovaleva (UIC), 6-3, 6-0
Zara Harutyunyan (Ak) def. Elisa Simonetti (UIC), 6-2, 6-2
M. Sulahian (Mich.) def. Mariya Kovaleva (UIC), 6-4, 6-3
Elisa Simonetti (UIC) def. M. Brown (Lou), 6-4, 4-6, 10-8
Draw B Singles
Angelina Jogasuria (Ak) def. Jana Knoppe (UIC), 6-4, 6-2
Jana Knoppe (UIC) def. Katarina Lingl (MSU), 6-1, 6-2
Draw C Singles
Haley Craig (UIC) def. Hillary Hager (MSU), 6-2, 6-4
Kathryn Sharples (UIC) def. Kristina Radan (Marq)
Linda Hricistova (UIC) def. Jennifer Yen (MSU), 6-2, 6-0
Haley Craig (UIC) def. Rocio Diaz (Marq), 6-3, 6-3
Julianne Gruber (MSU) def. Kathryn Sharples (UIC), 6-2, 6-2
K. Berestetska (Ak) def. Linda Hricistova (UIC), 5-7, 7-5, 6-0
Draw A Doubles
Mariya Kovaleva/Haley Craig (UIC) def. Amy Barton/Gruber (MSU), 8-6
Amelia Harris/Manuela Velasquez (Lou) def. Elisa Simonetti/Polina Guimaraes (UIC), 8-3
Draw B Doubles
Jana Knoppe/Linda Hricistova (UIC) def. Ana Pimienta/Kristina Radan (Marq), 8-6
--UIC—
