TAMPA, Fla. (February 15, 2007) ? In familiar fashion, the University of South Florida women's tennis team posted its third straight shut-out over an in-state rival Thursday afternoon, blanking UCF 7-0.
The Bulls (3-1) again opened play much the same way the team had against Stetson and Jacksonville earlier this week, by sweeping the doubles point. Freshman Ann-Marie Modric teamed with senior Gabriela Duch due to Duch's normal partner, Shadisha Robinson resting a sore back. The pair defeated UCF's Jennifer Carati and Becky Gordon 8-2 in the third spot. Junior Courtney Vernon and freshman Jessica Sweeting assumed the No. 1 flight for the day, beating Elvira Serrot and Anna Yakimchenkova 8-4. Junior Liz Cruz and sophomore Iciri Rai won by identical score over Kenza Belbacha and Kyla McNicol at No. 2 to cap the sweep.
Singles play saw Vernon at the No. 1 position for the third consecutive time. The No. 54 ranked player battled Serrot at the spot for a hard-fought first set win, 7-6(7-4), then closed out the duel, 6-2, in the second. Vernon moves to 4-0 in dual play this year, with three victories at No. 1 and one win over Estefania Balda of No. 17 Clemson at No. 2 in the Bulls season opener.
Modric picked up her first collegiate dual singles victory, emerging from a 6-3 first set loss to Gordon at No. 6, to take the remaining frames 7-5 and 10-4 in a shortened third.
UCF (0-3) failed to pick up any other sets as Sweeting, Cruz, Duch and Rai each set down their opponents with relative ease.
“I believer our mind-set is perfect right now,” said head coach Agustin Moreno. “We're winning matches 7-0 right now that we used to win with scores of 5-2 and 4-3.”
For the recent success, the team moved up one spot in the latest ITA/FILA rankings from No. 31 to No. 30. A tough road trip awaits the team however, as it travels to face No. 21 Kentucky and No. 14 Virginia Commonwealth beginning next Friday, Feb. 23.
“They are both tough teams and both very highly ranked,” continued Moreno. “But we are capable of winning.”
No. 30 USF 7, UCF 0
Doubles
1) Vernon/Sweeting (USF) def. Serrot/Yakimchenkova (UCF) 8-4
2) Cruz/Rai (USF) def. Belbacha/McNicol (UCF) 8-4
3) Modric/Duch (USF) def. Carati/Gordon (UCF) 8-2
Singles
1) Courtney Vernon (USF) def. Elvira Serrot (UCF) 7-6(7-4), 6-2
2) Jessica Sweeting (USF) def. Kenza Belbacha (UCF) 6-1, 6-4
3) Liz Cruz (USF) def. Anna Yakimchenkova (UCF) 6-0, 6-0
4) Gabriela Duch (USF) def. Kyla McNicol (UCF) 6-2, 6-2
5) Iciri Rai (USF) def. Megan Hunter (UCF) 6-4, 6-2
6) Ann-Marie Modric (USF) def. Becky Gordon (UCF) 3-6, 7-5, 10-4
Order of Finish: 3,4,5,1,2,6
USF: 3-1 UCF: 0-3
