TAMPA, Fla., March 19, 2021 – The University of South Florida women's tennis team lost, 5-2 to East Tennessee State on Friday at the USF Varsity Tennis Courts.
 
The Bucs (7-8) clinched the doubles point by taking sets on court three against, Grace Schumacher (Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia) and Margriet Timmermans (Bergen Op Zoom, Netherlands), and took court two in tiebreakers over Laura Pellicer (Gandia, Valencia, Spain) and Grace Eland (Manchester, England), 7-6(7-3).
 
ETSU extended their lead to two after winning in straight sets on court six. Schumacher picked up the first point for the Bulls, and her third consecutive singles win, on court two against Alejandra Morales, 7-6, 6-3. The Bucs clinched the duel for themselves after winning the next two singles courts. Even with the match decided, play continued on the remaining courts.
 
After dropping the first set, 7-5, Pellicer continued to battle to take set two, 6-1 and dominated in the third set, 6-4 to defeat ETSU's Laylo Bakhodirova.
 
Quotable
Head coach Cristina Moros on Friday's loss:
"Disappointing loss today. We had match points in two of the doubles that unfortunately we lost and carried a little of that into our singles. Grace Schumacher and Laura Pellicer found a way today and we need the rest of the team to follow through on their commitments.  Our team is not short on tennis talent but if we are going to live up to our potential, we need to get on a different path moving forward."
 
Match Results:
Singles competition:
1. Laura Pellicer (USF) def. Laylo Bakhodirova (ETSU) 5-7, 6-1, 6-4
2. Grace Schumacher (USF) def. Alejandra Morales (ETSU) 7-6, 6-3
3. A Pascual-Larrinaga (ETSU) def. Amelie Boy (USF) 5-7, 6-0, 6-1
4. Emilia Alfaro (ETSU) def. Alexandria Mjos (USF) 1-6, 6-2, 6-3
5. Maria Carvajal (ETSU) def. Margriet Timmermans (USF) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
6. Yunuen Elizarraras (ETSU) def. Lucia Garrigues (USF) 6-2, 7-6 (7-4)
Order of Finish: (6,2,3,4,5,1)
 
 
Doubles competition:
1. Amelie Boy/Alexandria Mjos (USF) vs. Alejandra Morales/Mayya Gorbunova (ETSU) 6-6, unfinished
2. Emilia Alfaro/Laylo Bakhodirova (ETSU) def. Laura Pellicer/Grace Eland (USF) 7-6 (7-3)
3. Maria Carvajal/A Pascual-Larrinaga (ETSU) def. Margriet Timmermans/Grace Schumacher (USF) 6-3
Order of Finish: (3,2)
 
Up Next:
South Florida remains at home to host Central Arkansas on Monday, March 22 at 1 p.m.
 
About Women's Tennis
Be sure to follow USF women's tennis on social media (Twitter / Facebook / Instagram) and visit GoUSFBulls.com for the most up-to-date information. Head coach Cristina Moros will be in her sixth year at the helm, as she led the program to an American Athletic Conference Championship in 2017.