Complete Results
ORLANDO – Remaining undefeated, the 74th-ranked University of South Alabama women's tennis team picked up its sixth-straight win with a 4-3 victory over Central Florida on Thursday at the UCF Tennis Complex.
The Jaguars improved to 6-0 overall, while the Knights dropped to 3-4 this spring.
"That was a huge win today," said USA head coach
Jaco Keyser. "UCF played a great match, but we absorbed their blows and found a way to win. We can definitely play better tennis, but from an identity and toughness standpoint, today was very impressive."
Central Florida's duo of
Caroline Eberhart and
Clare Mendell downed sophomore
Paula Sanchez (Bogota, Columbia) and freshman
Laura Valkova (Piestany, Germany) 8-2 at No. 3. Freshmen
Monica MItta (Fairhope, Ala.) and
Laura Matuskova (Bratislava, Slovakia) dropped
Sofia Baptista and
Cortney Cesarini 8-2 on the No. 2 court.
Junior
Emily Newton (Dothan, Ala.) and sophomore
Michaela Meszarosova (Bratislava, Slovakia) clinched the doubles point for South Alabama when they edged
Josephine Haraldson and
Courtney Griffith 8-5 in the No. 1 flight.
In singles action, UCF took the first point and tied the match at 1-1 when Haraldson defeated Meszarosova 6-2, 6-3 at the No. 1 spot. Valkova responded with a 6-3, 7-5 win over Eberhart at No. 3 to give the Jags a 2-1 lead.
Griffith evened the match at 2-2 when she edged Newton 7-5, 6-2 on the No. 2 court. Mitta picked up a point for USA with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Baptista at No. 4. Cesarini earned the final win for UCF when she topped Martin 7-5, 7-6 (7-5) in the No. 5 flight.
Sanchez secured the match for South Alabama when she outlasted Mendell 5-7, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4) at the No. 6 spot.
"We have a short turn around to get ready for Bethune-Cookman," said Keyser. "It will be a great opportunity to build on today and keep getting better."
The Jaguars are back in action Friday as they travel to Daytona Beach to face Bethune-Cookman at 1 p.m.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
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