March 14, 2012

CHICAGO - Holding its first match of the dual season at the Flames Outdoor Tennis Courts, the UIC women's tennis team came out on top of Saint Louis in a 6-1 final on Wednesday afternoon. The Flames improve to 7-3 on the season and mark their fifth consecutive victory, while the Billikens go to 5-6 overall.

UIC began with a sweep of its doubles matches to take the first point of the day. Mariya Kovaleva and Haley Craig overpowered Stephanie Hollis and Mia Elmore at No. 1 to come out on top 8-1. Teona Tsertsvadze and Elisa Simonetti defeated Jenny Nalepa and Brooke Urzendowski at No. 2 in an 8-4 decision, with Linda Hricistova and Kathryn Sharples claiming No. 3 over Maria Toro Moreno and Madeline Jolly, 8-2.

Through the singles matches, the Flames claimed 5-of-6 wins, with each match ending in straight sets. Kovaleva edged Nalepa, 6-4, 6-4, at No. 1, Craig took No. 3 against Elmore, 6-1, 6-1, and Simonetti pulled away from Urzendowski, 6-2, 7-5, at No. 4. Jana Knoppe competed at No. 5 with Toro Moreno and took the match 6-2, 6-3, as Hricistova came in at No. 6 to defeat Jolly, 6-2, 6-2.

While Tsertsvadze battled with Hollis, she fell 6-4, 6-4 at No. 2.

UIC returns to the Flames Outdoor Tennis Courts to open Horizon League play with Wright State and Butler on Saturday, March 24, at 11 a.m. (CT) and Sunday, March 25, at 1 p.m. (CT), respectively.


UIC 6, SLU 1
Doubles:
1. Kovaleva/Craig (UIC) def. Hollis/Elmore (SLU) - 8-1
2. Tsertsvadze/Simonetti (UIC) def. Nalepa/Urzendowski (SLU) - 8-4
3. Hricistova/Sharples (UIC) def. Toro Moreno/Jolly (SLU) - 8-2

Singles:
1. Mariya Kovaleva (UIC) def. Jenny Nalepa (SLU) - 6-4, 6-4
2. Stephanie Hollis (SLU) def. Teona Tsertsvadze (UIC) - 6-4, 6-4
3. Haley Craig (UIC) def. Mia Elmore (SLU) - 6-1, 6-1
4. Elisa Simonetti (UIC) def. Brooke Urzendowski (SLU) - 6-2, 7-5
5. Jana Knoppe (UIC) def. Maria Toro Moreno (SLU) - 6-2, 6-3
6. Linda Hricistova (UIC) def. Madeline Jolly (SLU) - 6-2, 6-2