PEORIA, Ill. (March 29, 2024) – Competing outside for the first time this season, the UIC women's tennis program (6-9, 2-0 MVC) came away with a gritty 4-3 victory over Bradley (6-11, 0-2 MVC) in Missouri Valley Conference action. Senior Tamara Malazonia (Birmingham, United Kingdom/St. Paul's School for Girls) clinched the victory for the Flames with a three-set victory at No. 2 singles.
 
With the win, the Flames move to 2-0 in conference play.
 

The Flames move to 2-0 in MVC competition!#ChicagosCollegeTeam pic.twitter.com/7aHDIidUan

— UIC Women's Tennis ???? (@UIC_WTEN) March 29, 2024

 
COMMENT FROM HEAD COACH ELIZABETH LUMPKIN ROBINSON
 
"We showed good adaptability today in our first outdoor match of the season. We were challenged in both the singles and doubles competitions. I am glad we had the opportunity to battle and find a way to win today. We will use this experience to prepare for another tough opponent Saturday when we face Illinois State."
 
MATCH RECAP

• The Flames won the doubles point victories in with victories in all three matches. UIC's No. 1 pair of Agnes Gustafsson (Paris, France/Akademi Båstad Gymnasium) and Mayu Ushio (Yamaguchi, Japan/Miami University) won 6-2, while the Flames' No. 2 doubles team of Camille Belberka (Saint-Denis-lès-Bourg, France Seward County Community College (Kan.) and Malazonia and the No. 3 doubles tandem of Zara Ryan (Dublin, Ireland/Utah State) and Paula Rodriguez Gregoris (Canary Islands, Spain International School of Berne) were victorious in gritty 7-6 matches.
• In singles competition Ryan was victorious at No. 5 singles, winning in straight sets. The senior fought back from a 5-2 deficit in the second set and saved one match point in Friday's victory. Ryan has won six of her last seven singles matches.
• Competing at No. 6 singles, Rodriguez Gregoris won her second match in a row, taking down her opponent in straight sets.
• At No. 3 singles, Ushio saved four match points, but ultimately lost in three sets.
• With an opportunity to clinch the team match on the line, Malazonia battled a tough opponent at No. 2 singles. Playing the most aggressive that she has all season, while also hitting big serves, the senior fought back from a second set loss to win a challenging third set and clinch the victory for the Flames.
• UIC only had one outdoor practice this week prior to Friday's match and handled the conditions well.

Full results from Friday's match are below.
 
RESULTS
 
UIC 4, BRAD 3
 
Doubles – UIC wins the doubles point

1. Gustafsson/Ushio (UIC) def. Hailey/Sirbu (BRAD) 6-2
2. Malazonia/Belberka (UIC) def. Bezmenova/Pukhina (BRAD) 7-6 (7-5)
3. Rodriguez Gregoris/Ryan (UIC) def. Belogliadova/Hildreth (BRAD) 7-6 (7-5)

Singles

1. Bezmenova (BRAD) def. Gustafsson (UIC) 6-2, 6-3
2. Malazonia (UIC) def. Belogliadova (BRAD) 7-6 (7), 3-6, 6-3
3. Hailey (BRAD) def. Ushio (UIC) 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (9-7)
4. Sirbu (BRAD) def. Belberka (UIC) 7-5, 6-0
5. Ryan (UIC) def. Pukhina (BRAD) 6-2, 7-6 (7-2)
6. Rodriguez Gregoris (UIC) def. Hildreth (BRAD) 6-4, 6-1

UP NEXT                              

• The Flames are back in action Saturday afternoon the team travels to Normal, Ill. to take on Illinois State in a conference showdown at the Gregory Street Courts.
• The Redbirds are 10-6 and 1-1 in MVC play this season.
• Illinois State is 5-1 in home matches this season. Saturday's contest will be ISU's first home match of the season outdoors at the Gregory Street Courts.
• Over the last 20 years, UIC holds a 12-5 record against Illinois State and is 7-3 against ISU in the last ten meetings. UIC currently trails in the overall series 12-13.
• The MVC named Illinois State's No. 1 doubles team of Tijana Zlatanovic and Lana Caculovic its Doubles team of the week after going 2-0 to open conference play. The duo is 11-3 on the season.

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).