March 29, 2014

UIC 6, Butler 1

GRIFFITH, Ind. - The UIC women's tennis team (4-9, 1-0 HL) picked up a 6-1 victory over Butler on Saturday at Match Point Tennis in its first match of the weekend. Seniors Kathryn Sharples, Mariana Palacios and Jana Knoppe each collected two wins against the Bulldogs as the Flames captured the doubles point and five singles matches.

The first point of the match was awarded to UIC after Sharples and Palacios edged Stephani McLoughlin and Kailey Eaton, 8-7 (6), at No. 1 and the duo of Knoppe and sophomore Ann-Sophie Hahn defeated Grace Hyde and Angelina Qin, 8-4, at No. 2. Senior Natalia Kuvakina and freshman Veronica Lacerda competed at No. 3, but fell to Jocelyn Koester and Konstantina Adami, 8-5.

The Flames bested their opponents and took straight-set victories in four of their five wins. Sharples improved to 2-0 at No. 1 with a 6-3, 6-0 win over McLoughlin, as Palacios continued to stay perfect, as well, at No. 2 after claiming a 6-3, 6-2 decision against Adami.

Knoppe came away with her ninth-consecutive singles win after taking out Hyde, 6-2, 6-0, at No. 3, while junior Keti Mebuke won her first match positioned at No. 4 against Eaton, 6-3, 6-1.

At the final two positions, Lacerda suffered a 6-3, 6-2 loss to Qin at No. 5, while Hahn came back in her match at No. 6 to take a 6-7 (5), 6-1, 10-5 win over Koester.

UIC will wrap up competition on Sunday with a 10 a.m. CT match against Horizon League-foe Wright State back at Match Point Tennis.