TAMPA -- After jumping out to an early 3-1 lead, the University of South Florida women's tennis team held off a Central Florida comeback bid to tally a 4-3 victory over the visiting Knights at the USF Varsity Tennis Courts Wednesday afternoon.
After the completion of the first three singles matches, the Bulls held a 3-1 lead. USF gained that lead by taking two of three doubles matches (one point) and two of the first three single matches (two points).
However, the Bulls would not clinch the dual until the final match of the afternoon as the Knights' registered victories at the No. 2 and 3 singles to even the score at 3-3.
The match would come down to No. 4 singles, which featured the Bulls
Natalia Guevara taking on Christy Core. Guevara would need to rally after dropping the first set, 6-3, but would storm back to take the second, 6-2, and then she would clinch the see-saw match with a 6-3 clincher in the third set.
The Bulls continued the recent trend of strong doubles play.
Lauren Shumate and
Natalia Guevara got the Bulls off on the right foot with a convincing 8-1 win in the No. 3 slot. Shortly after that victory, sophomore
Irene Rehberger and senior
Iciri Rai upset the No. 27 duo of Jenny Frisell and Elvira Serrot, 9-7, to claim the point and take the lead.
Heading into singles action with the lead, Rehberger and junior
Allyn Mueller would extend the lead to what looked to be a comfortable 3-1 advantage. Rehberger, the nation's No. 82 player continued her strong play by extending her winning streak to nine with a straight victory, 6-0, 6-4 over Jenny Frisell. Rehberger, the current BIG EAST Player of the Week, is now 9-1 on the season.
Mueller continued her strong play with a decisive straight-set win (6-2, 7-5) over Christy Core in the No. 5 slot to give USF a 3-1 advantage. Mueller has now won five of her last six matches.
With the win USF improves to 6-10 on the season. The Bulls are off until April 4 at 11 a.m. Eastern when they close out their nine-game homestand against Boston University.
USF 4, UCF 3
March 25, 2009
USF Varsity Tennis Courts-Tampa, Fla.
1. No. 82 Irene Rehberger (USF) def. Jenny Frisell (UCF) 6-0, 6-4
2. Andrea Yacaman (UCF)def. Jessica Zok (USF) 6-2, 6-3
3. Elvira Serrot (UCF)def. Iciri Rai (USF) 6-3, 0-6, 6-1
4. Natalia Guevara (USF) def. Alexis Rodriguez (UCF) 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
5. Allyn Mueller (USF) def. Christy Core (UCF) 6-2, 7-5
6. Katie Orletsky (UCF) def. Christine Wilson (USF) 6-3, 6-2
Finish Order- 1, 6, 5, 2, 3, 4
Doubles
1. Irene Rehberger / Iciri Rai def. #27 Jenny Frisell/Elvira Serrot (UCF) 9-7
2. Lauren Shumate/ Natalia Guevara def. Alexis Rodriguez/Andrea Yacaman (UCF) 8-1
3. Christy Core/Katie Orletsky (UCF) def. Allyn Mueller/ Jessica Zok 8-4
Finish Order: 2, 1, 3
