The University of South Florida earned a big win on Sunday at the USF Varsity Courts, defeating in-state rival Florida State, 5-2. The Bulls, ranked No. 55 by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, improve to 3-7 on the season with the win.

“It was a good win for us,” USF head coach Agustin Moreno said. “It was good to finally finish off a match against a highly-ranked opponent. Hopefully, we can carry the momentum into another tough stretch of matches we have coming up.”

USF's top players came through for the Bulls on Sunday as wins came from four of the top five singles spots. ITA's No. 43 individual, Irene Rehberger, was first off the courts with a 6-1, 6-3 win over No. 49 Katie Rybakova in the top position. After Loreto Alonso Martinez fell in straight sets to Federica Suess, Alessandra Bonte gave the Bulls a 3-1 lead with a 6-2, 2-6, 6-1 win over Amy Sargeant at No. 5.

FSU pulled within one point when Manon Veldman dropped Kate Parker, 7-5, 6-0, but USF responded with a match-clinching win from No. 76 Janette Bejikova over Ruth Seaborne, 7-5, 7-6 (7-4) at No. 3. The final match to finish was also a win for the Bulls as No. 106 Ecaterina Vasenina defeated Francesca Segarelli, 7-6, 5-7, 10-4.

In doubles action, USF split the first two matches before Bonte and Parker clinched the point with an 8-5 victory of Suess and Veldman. Martinez and Bejikova fell 8-3 and were first off the courts before Rehberger and Vasenina dropped Rybakova and Sargeant, 8-6. 

The Bulls return to action on March 11 at 2 p.m. vs. Clemson.

USF 5, FSU 2
March 6, 2011
USF Varsity Courts

Singles
1. No. 47 Irene Rehberger (USF) def. No. 49 Katie Rybakova (FSU), 6-1, 6-3
2. Ecaterina Vasenina (USF) def. Francesca Segarelli (FSU), 7-6, 5-7, 10-4
3. Janette Bejikova (USF) def. Ruth Seaborne (FSU), 7-5, 7-6 (7-4)
4. Federica Suess (FSU) def. Loreto Alonso Martinez (USF), 6-3, 6-3
5. Alessandra Bonte (USF) def. Amy Sargeant (FSU), 6-2, 2-6, 6-1
6.Manon Veldman (FSU) def. Kate Parker (USF), 7-5, 6-0
Order of Finish – 1, 4, 5, 6, 3, 2

Doubles
1.  Segarelli/Seaborne (FSU) def. Martinez/Bejikova (USF), 8-3
2. Rehberger/Vasenina (USF) def. Rybakova/Sargeant (FSU), 8-6
3. Bonte/Parker (USF) def. Suess/Veldman (FSU), 8-5
Order of Finish – 1, 2, 3