Feb. 5, 2012

PERRYSBURG, Ohio - After overcoming Toledo yesterday to capture its first win of the season, the UIC women's tennis team came out of top of Bowling Green in a final of 5-2 to notch its second win in a row and giving BGSU their first loss of the dual season. The Flames go to 2-2, while the Falcons drop one to go 3-1.

In doubles action, UIC defeated BGSU in the No. 1 and 2 positions to take the point for the Flames. The duo of Teona Tsertsvadze and Elisa Simonetti topped Nikki Chiricosta and Mary Hill at No. 1, 8-6. Mariya Kovaleva and Haley Craig claimed the No.2 spot against Maddy Eccleston and Jade Johnson, 8-3.

At the singles positions, Kovaleva, Jana Knoppe, Kathryn Sharples and Linda Hricistova all defeated their respective opponents. Taking them to two sets, Kovaleva topped Eccleston at No. 1 (6-3, 6-4), Knoppe took the No. 4 spot with Hill (6-2, 6-1) and Sharples rounded out No. 5 with Katie Grubb (6-2, 7-5). Hricistova took the BGSU's Jessica Easdale to three sets in the No. 6 position, dropping the first 5-7 and coming out on top at 6-3, 1-0 (7).

The Flames take to Iowa next weekend when they will face Iowa on Friday, Feb. 10, at 5 p.m. (CT) at the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex in Iowa City and go head-to-head with Iowa State on Saturday, Feb. 11, at 11 a.m. (CT) at the Ames Racquet and Fitness Indoor Tennis Center in Ames.


UIC 5, Bowling Green 2
Doubles
1. Tsertsvadze/Simonetti (UIC) def. Chiricosta/Hill (BGSU) - 8-6
2. Kovaleva/Haley Craig (UIC) def. Eccleston/Jade Johnson (BGSU) - 8-3
3. Grubb/Reuland (BGSU) def. Knoppe/Hricistova (UIC) - 8-3

Singles
1. Mariya Kovaleva (UIC) def. Maddy Eccleston (BGSU) - 6-3, 6-4
2. Nikki Chiricosta (BGSU) def. Teona Tsertsvadze (UIC) - 6-0, 6-2
3. Emily Reuland (BGSU) def. Elisa Simonetti (UIC) - 6-3, 6-0
4. Jana Knoppe (UIC) def. Mary Hill (BGSU) - 6-2, 6-1
5. Kathryn Sharples (UIC) def. Katie Grubb (BGSU) - 6-2, 7-5
6. Linda Hricistova (UIC) def. Jessica Easdale (BGSU) - 5-7, 6-3, 1-0 (7)