Jan. 28, 2012

MILWAUKEE - The UIC women's tennis team (0-2) fell short in its attempt to defeat Marquette on Saturday at the Helfaer Tennis Stadium, dropping a 4-3 decision. The Flames were able to capture three singles wins from Teona Tsertsvadze, Jana Knoppe and Haley Craig.

In doubles action, the Golden Eagles came out on top of all three matches. The duo of Gillian Hush and Olga Fischer took Elisa Simonetti and Tsertsvadze to 8-5, with Kristina Radan and Ali Dawson taking Mariya Kovaleva and Craig to 8-5 as well. Ana Pimienta and Rocio Diaz closed out the No. 3 spot against Knoppe and Kathryn Sharples with a final of 8-2.

Heading into singles play, Tsertsvadze, Simonetti, Knoppe and Craig each claimed their first sets. Tsertsvadze, Knoppe and Craig went on to win their matches, while Simonetti, along with Kovaleva and Sharples, fell to their opponents.

Tsertsvadze went up against Pimienta in the No. 2 position and was able to capture the win in two sets, 6-4, 6-4. Knoppe took Dawson to three sets, claiming the first and third, in the No. 4 singles with a final of 6-4, 6-7 (7), 10-1. Craig defeated Radan in the No. 5 spot in two straight, 6-1, 6-4, marking her 11th overall singles win and second in the dual season.

Kovaleva and Simonetti did not go down without a fight. Kovaleva came back from going down in the first set 6-1 against Fischer in the No. 1 position, taking the second 6-3, before falling in the third 6-3. In No. 3, Simonetti took her first against Hush 6-2, before falling in the second and third 7-5, 6-2.

This was not the first time Knoppe and Sharples faced their respective singles opponents of Dawson and Diaz. During the fall season, they battled the pair in their singles matches at the Spartan Invitational before falling in 6-4, 6-4 and 6-3, 6-3 sets. Knoppe came out on top this time, while Sharples fell in a 6-4, 6-3 decision.

The Flames continue on their road trip as they face Toledo on Saturday, Feb. 4, at 1 p.m. (CT) at the Shadow valley Tennis Club in Maumee, Ohio.


Marquette 4, UIC 3
Doubles
1. Hush/Fischer (MU) def. Simonetti/Tsertsvadze (UIC) - 8-5
2. Radan/Dawson (MU) def. Kovaleva/Craig (UIC) - 8-5
3. Pimienta/Diaz (MU) def. Knoppe/Sharples (UIC) - 8-2

Singles
1. Olga Fischer (MU) def. Mariya Kovaleva (UIC) - 6-1, 3-6, 6-3
2. Teona Tsertsvadze (UIC) def. Ana Pimenta (MU) - 6-4, 6-4
3. Gillian Hush (MU) def. Elisa Simonetti (UIC) - 2-6, 7-5, 6-2
4. Jana Knoppe (UIC) def. Ali Dawson (MU) - 6-4, 6-7 (7), 10-1
5. Haley Craig (UIC) def. Kristina Radan (MU) - 6-1, 6-4
6. Rocio Diaz (MU) def. Kathryn Sharples (UIC) - 6-4, 6-3