CHICAGO (March 2, 2024) - Competing at home for the first time since Feb. 10, the UIC women's tennis program (3-6) fell 5-2 to Georgia State (4-6) Saturday afternoon at the XS Tennis Village.
 
Junior Mayu Ushio (Yamaguchi, Japan/Miami University) and senior Zara Ryan (Dublin, Ireland/Utah State) won singles matches for the Flames in Saturday's loss.
 
COMMENT FROM HEAD COACH ELIZABETH LUMPKIN ROBINSON

"The final score did not reflect how close this match was. The intensity of the match was incredibly high. We had multiple opportunities to win sets or matches and weren't able to convert this time in the critical moments. We will get back to work and are fired up for our next opportunity to compete."

MATCH RECAP

• The Flames dropped the doubles point against the Panthers. UIC's No. 2 doubles team of Tamara Malazonia (Birmingham, United Kingdom/St. Paul's School for Girls) and Camille Belberka (Saint-Denis-lès-Bourg, France/Seward County Community College (Kan.) were tied 5-5 in their match, but the contest went unfinished due to Georgia State already winning the doubles point.
• In singles action, after coming back from being down 5-2 to win the first set 7-6, Ryan made quick work of her opponent in the second set to come away with the straight-sets victory. The win is the senior's second singles win in a row and the third of the 2024 season.
• The No. 3 singles match was one of the more exciting matches of the afternoon. After dropping the first set, Ushio was tenacious once again, fighting back in the second set to force a thrid set. The junior came away with a thrilling 11-9 tie break victory to win the set 7-6 and secure the match victory. Saturday's win is the junior's second singles victory of the weekend and her fifth win for the Flames this season.
• At No. 1 singles, Gustafsson fought hard on the court, but ultimately lost to Georgia State's Maria Paredes.
• Though Belberka ultimately lost at the No. 4 singles position, the junior battled throughout the match and fought hard against her Georgia State opponent through a lengthy three-set contest.
• Four of UIC's six matches Saturday featured a tie break to determine the set winner.

Full results from Saturday's match are below.
 
RESULTS
 
GSU 5, UIC 2
 
Doubles – GSU wins the doubles point

1. Stanescu/Retortillo (GSU) def. Gustafsson/Ushio (UIC) 6-4
2. Malazonia/Belberka (UIC) vs. Kumar/Radojevic (GSU) 5-5, unfinished
3. Paredes/Miglio (GSU) def. Ryan/Rodriguez Gregoris (UIC) 6-4

Singles

1. Paredes (GSU) def. Gustafsson (UIC) 6-2, 7-6 (9)
2. Retortillo (GSU) def. Malazonia (UIC) 3-6, 7-5, 6-1
3. Ushio (UIC) def. Miglio (GSU) 1-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7)
4. Stanescu (GSU) def. Belberka (UIC) 4-6, 7-6 (7), 7-5
5. Ryan (UIC) def. Galvez (GSU) 7-6 (3), 6-2
6. Radojevic (GSU) def. Rodriguez Gregoris (UIC) 6-1, 6-2

UP NEXT

• The Flames return are off until March 13 when they take on Chicago State.
• The Wednesday afternoon contest will take place at 12 p.m. at the H-F Racquet & Fitness Club in Homewood, Ill.
• The Cougars are currently 6-11 on the season and are sporting a three-match win streak.
• UIC's won eight in a row against Chicago State and nine of the last ten matches. The Flames lead the overall series 10-5.

FOLLOW THE FLAMES

• For more information on the UIC women's tennis program, fans are encouraged to visit UICFlames.com, or follow the Flames on social media through X (@UICWTEN and @UICFlames) and Instagram (@uic_wten and @uicflames).