TAMPA, FEB. 5, 2014 – The No. 62 USF women's tennis team picked up its first sweep of the season as they defeated Florida Gulf Coast University 7-0 Wednesday afternoon at the USF Varsity Tennis Courts.

With the win, USF improves to 3-2 on the year while the Eagles fall to 3-4.

The tempo was set early on for the Bulls as they quickly won the doubles point to take a 1-0 advantage.  Kayla Rizzolo and Loreto Alonso-Martinez defeated the sister tandem of Elizabeth Means and Sarah Means at first doubles 6-2 while Olaya Garrido-Rivas and Fanny Fracassi bested Gyanna Mandic and Breana Stampfli 6-3 at third doubles.

There wasn't much drama in singles action as five of the six singles matches were won in straight sets although Fracassi did win a second set tiebreak to take down E. Means 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) at fourth singles.  Rizzolo showed great solve at the top singles spot as she bounced back after losing the first set to post a 3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-8) victory over S. Means.  In the tiebreak, Rizzolo was down 7-3 before winning seven of the next eight points to rally for the win.

USF will have over a week off to prepare for a rematch with No. 60 LSU who beat the Bulls in Coral Gables as part of the ITA Kick-Off Weekend on January 24.  The match is set for 7:00 p.m. in Baton Rouge on Friday, February 14.

Results

Doubles

No. 1 - Kayla Rizzolo/Loreto Alonso-Martinez (USF) def. Elizabeth Means/Sarah Means (FGCU) 6-2
No. 2. - Vera Bessonova/Olga Martinez (USF) vs. Bettina Botha/Johanna Sterkel (FGCU) DNF
No. 3 - Olaya Garrido-Rivas/Fanny Fracassi (USF) def. Gyanna Mandic/ Breana Stampfli (FGCU) 6-3

Singles

No. 1 - Kayla Rizzolo (USF) def. Sarah Means (FGCU) 3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-8)
No. 2 - Loreto Alonso-Martinez (USF) def. Breana Stampfli (FGCU) 6-4, 6-2
No. 3 - Olaya Garrido-Rivas (USF) def. Johanna Sterkel (FGCU) 6-3, 6-0
No. 4 - Fanny Fracassi (USF) def. Elizabeth Means (FGCU) 6-4, 7-6 (7-3)
No. 5 - Vera Bessonova (USF) def. Candela Munoz Giron 6-1, 6-0
No. 6 - Olga Martinez (USF) def. Bettina Botha (FGCU) 6-4, 6-1