East Carolina University
UCF (C-USA Championships)
ECU Falls In C-USA Tourney Opener
April 19, 2007 | Women's Tennis
April 19, 2007
TULSA, Okla. - In Thursday's opening round match of the 2007 Conference USA Women's Tennis Championship at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center on the campus of the University of Tulsa, No. 8 Central Florida downed No. 9 East Carolina, 4-0.
The Golden Knights claimed the doubles point to grab the early 1-0 advantage and won at spots one, three and six in singles to grab the win.
The teams began the match with doubles play, where Elvira Serrot and Anna Yakimchenkova of UCF, paired at the No.1 position, defeated ECU's Varinia Soler and Mireia Gol, 8-5. UCF's No. 2 doubles tandem of Kenza Belbacha and Kyla McNicol clinched the doubles point with their win over Luiza Borges and Hannah Priest, 8-4. With the point secured, doubles play was halted and singles play got underway.
Serrot and Soler battled at the top spot in singles, with Serrot again claiming the win. The sophomore won in straight sets 6-2, 6-2 to advance to 11-7 on the spring at the No. 1 position.
With the score now 2-0 in favor of UCF, the Golden Knights' Becky Gordon defeated Alex Smith at No. 6, 7-5, 6-0 to move her team one point away from an opening round win.
Yakimchenkova then secured her 10th win of the spring at No. 3 singles when she downed Brooke Walter in straight sets 6-4, 6-0 and sealed the triumph for UCF.
UCF advances to face No. 1 Tulsa at 10 a.m. on Friday in the first quarterfinal match-up and improves to 11-7 on the spring. East Carolina concluded its season at 19-10.
CENTRAL FLORIDA 4, EAST CAROLINA 0
Singles Play
No. 1 - Elvira Serrot (UCF) def. Varinia Soler (ECU); 6-2, 6-2
No. 2 - Mireia Gol (ECU) vs. Kenza Belbacha (UCF); 6-0, 5-4, unfinished
No. 3 - Anna Yakimchenkova (UCF) def. Brooke Walter (ECU); 6-4, 6-0
No. 4 - Luiza Borges (ECU) vs. Kyla McNicol (UCF); 6-4, 5-4, unfinished
No. 5 - Megan Hunter (UCF) vs. Hannah Priest (ECU); 6-3, 5-3, unfinished
No. 6 - Becky Gordon (UCF) def. Alex Smith (ECU); 7-5, 6-0
Doubles Play
No. 1 - Serrot/Yakimchenkova (UCF) def. Gol/Soler (ECU); 8-5
No. 2 - Belbacha/McNicol (UCF) def. Borges/Priest (ECU); 8-4
No. 3 - Jennifer Carati/Becky Gordon (UCF) vs. Smith/Walter (ECU) 7-6; unfinished
Team Records: East Carolina 19-10, Central Florida 11-7
