Match Details
No. 55 Rice 4, South Florida 2,
South Florida (5-12), No. 55 Rice (12-5)
Friday, April 1, 2022 | 1 p.m.
Tampa, Fla. | USF Varsity Tennis Courts
 
TAMPA (April 1, 2022) – The University of South Florida women's tennis team looked to get its third win in the last four matches, however, No. 55 Rice had other ideas as the Owls defeated the Bulls 4-2 at the USF Varsity Tennis Courts on Friday.

South Florida falls to 5-12 on the year while Rice improves to 12-5.

Early on, Rice took the doubles point, winning on court three, defeating Laura Pellicer and Selin Yaylali, 6-3, but had a much more difficult time closing out the doubles portion of the dual on court one. The Owls found themselves in a dogfight against Sierra Berry and Amelie Boy with neither side taking control, until Rice secured the point in a tiebreaker, 7-6 (8-6).

Grace Schumacher and Margriet Timmermans were also enthralled in a battle that stood at 6-6 (6-6) when the Owls closed out the point.

In singles, Rice took a 2-0 lead with a win over Boy on court five, 6-3, 6-3, before Berry got the Bulls on the board with a 6-4, 6-4 victory on court two.

Schumacher then evened up the dual at two-all with a 6-1, 7-5 win on court one, her fourth win in the last six matches on the top court.

The Owls, however, closed it out in the end, taking court six over Kiana Mokhtari, 6-3, 6-2, and then secured the win on court four with a 6-7 (7-9), 6-2, 6-1 victory on court four.  

Laura Pellicer found herself up in the third set on court three, 5-7, 6-3, 5-3, when the dual was won by Rice.

Quotable – USF Head Coach Cristina Moros
"It was a great battle today and I'm really proud of our team's fight. We were right there with a very good Rice team. It was a close doubles point and it was the same in most spots in singles. We need to stay motivated as we have a great opportunity on Sunday against another tough team (No. 42 FIU)."

Up Next
The Bulls are back in action Sunday, April 3, at noon to take on No. 42 FIU at the USF Varsity Tennis Courts.

Match Results
Doubles
1. Diae El Jardi/Maria Budin (RICE) def. Amelie Boy/Sierra Berry (USF) 7-6 (8-6)
2. Grace Schumacher/Margriet Timmermans (USF) vs. Anastasia Smirnova/Allison Zipoli (RICE) 6-6 (6-6), unfinished
3. Federica Trevisan/Saara Orav (RICE) def. Laura Pellicer/Selin Yaylali (USF) 6-3

Order of finish for doubles: (1,3)
 
Singles
1. Grace Schumacher (USF) def. Federica Trevisan (RICE) 6-1, 7-5
2. Sierra Berry (USF) def. Anastasia Smirnova (RICE) 6-4, 6-4
3. Laura Pellicer (USF) vs. Allison Zipoli (RICE) 5-7, 6-3, 5-3, unfinished
4. Anna Bowtell (RICE) def. Margriet Timmermans (USF) 6-7 (7-9), 6-2, 6-1
5. Maria Budin (RICE) def. Amelie Boy (USF) 6-3, 6-3
6. Saara Orav (RICE) def. Kiana Mokhtari (USF) 6-3, 6-2
 
Order of finish for singles: (5,2,1,6,4)

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 seventh year at the helm, as she led the program to an American Athletic Conference Championship in 2017.