Saturday, April 20
Orlando, Fla.
9 am
Tulsa
0
vs
4
UCF (Semifinals)
Photo by: American Athletic Conference
Tulsa Women Fall to No. 25 UCF in American Semifinals
4/20/2019 11:28:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Box Score (.pdf) | Season Stats (.pdf)
ORLANDO, Fla. – Martina Okalova and Vera Ploner earned a ranked doubles win, but No. 25 UCF (21-3) secured the 4-0 win over Tulsa (15-10) in the American Athletic Conference semifinal round on a windy Saturday at the USTA National Campus.
Tulsa got off to a strong start at the top flight from its No. 17-ranked doubles duo of Okalova and Ploner, who defeated the Knights' No. 19 Valeriya Zeleva/Ksenia Kuznetsova, 6-1, to kick off doubles.
The win marked the TU duo's highest ranked victory of the season, along with the tandem's fourth against nationally-ranked opponents in 2019.
UCF responded at the No. 3 position, winning a close battle over TU's Megan Hopton and Marina Davtyan, 6-4. At the second slot, UCF rallied late en route to a 7-5 doubles win and the early 1-0 advantage.
The Knights tightened their grip on the lead heading into singles, picking up a 2-0 lead at the No. 1 position, where UCF's No. 46 Zeleva took down No. 81 Okalova in straight sets.
Shortly following, Hopton fell in her match to Marie Mattel, 6-2, 6-3, to push the hosts ahead by three. The Knights were able to clinch the match at the No. 5 position, as Natalia Serrano defeated the Golden Hurricane's Shura Poppe, 6-2, 6-2 to secure their spot in the finals.
The team will await to see if it qualified for the team, singles or doubles rendition of the NCAA Division I Women's Tennis Championships, set to take place at the familiar USTA National Campus from May 16-25.
For all Tulsa women's tennis news and information, visit TulsaHurricane.com. Be sure to follow the team on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
#25 UCF 4, Tulsa 0
Singles competition
1. #46 Valeryia Zeleva (UCF) def. #81 Martina Okalova (TLSW) 6-2, 6-0
2. #82 Ksenia Kuznetsova (UCF) vs. #120 Martha Matoula (TLSW) 6-4, 3-2, unfinished
3. Rebeka Stolmar (UCF) vs. Vera Ploner (TLSW) 7-6 (8-6), unfinished
4. Marie Mattel (UCF) def. Megan Hopton (TLSW) 6-2, 6-3
5. Natalia Serrano (UCF) def. Shura Poppe (TLSW) 6-2, 6-2
6. Nandini Sharma (UCF) vs. Marina Davtyan (TLSW) 7-5, 1-1, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. #17 Martina Okalova/Vera Ploner (TLSW) def. #19 Valeryia Zeleva/Ksenia Kuznetsova (UCF) 6-1
2. Rebeka Stolmar/Marie Mattel (UCF) def. Martha Matoula/Shura Poppe (TLSW) 7-5
3. Natalia Serrano/Nandini Sharma (UCF) def. Megan Hopton/Marina Davtyan (TLSW) 6-4
ORLANDO, Fla. – Martina Okalova and Vera Ploner earned a ranked doubles win, but No. 25 UCF (21-3) secured the 4-0 win over Tulsa (15-10) in the American Athletic Conference semifinal round on a windy Saturday at the USTA National Campus.
Tulsa got off to a strong start at the top flight from its No. 17-ranked doubles duo of Okalova and Ploner, who defeated the Knights' No. 19 Valeriya Zeleva/Ksenia Kuznetsova, 6-1, to kick off doubles.
The win marked the TU duo's highest ranked victory of the season, along with the tandem's fourth against nationally-ranked opponents in 2019.
UCF responded at the No. 3 position, winning a close battle over TU's Megan Hopton and Marina Davtyan, 6-4. At the second slot, UCF rallied late en route to a 7-5 doubles win and the early 1-0 advantage.
The Knights tightened their grip on the lead heading into singles, picking up a 2-0 lead at the No. 1 position, where UCF's No. 46 Zeleva took down No. 81 Okalova in straight sets.
Shortly following, Hopton fell in her match to Marie Mattel, 6-2, 6-3, to push the hosts ahead by three. The Knights were able to clinch the match at the No. 5 position, as Natalia Serrano defeated the Golden Hurricane's Shura Poppe, 6-2, 6-2 to secure their spot in the finals.
The team will await to see if it qualified for the team, singles or doubles rendition of the NCAA Division I Women's Tennis Championships, set to take place at the familiar USTA National Campus from May 16-25.
For all Tulsa women's tennis news and information, visit TulsaHurricane.com. Be sure to follow the team on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
#25 UCF 4, Tulsa 0
Singles competition
1. #46 Valeryia Zeleva (UCF) def. #81 Martina Okalova (TLSW) 6-2, 6-0
2. #82 Ksenia Kuznetsova (UCF) vs. #120 Martha Matoula (TLSW) 6-4, 3-2, unfinished
3. Rebeka Stolmar (UCF) vs. Vera Ploner (TLSW) 7-6 (8-6), unfinished
4. Marie Mattel (UCF) def. Megan Hopton (TLSW) 6-2, 6-3
5. Natalia Serrano (UCF) def. Shura Poppe (TLSW) 6-2, 6-2
6. Nandini Sharma (UCF) vs. Marina Davtyan (TLSW) 7-5, 1-1, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. #17 Martina Okalova/Vera Ploner (TLSW) def. #19 Valeryia Zeleva/Ksenia Kuznetsova (UCF) 6-1
2. Rebeka Stolmar/Marie Mattel (UCF) def. Martha Matoula/Shura Poppe (TLSW) 7-5
3. Natalia Serrano/Nandini Sharma (UCF) def. Megan Hopton/Marina Davtyan (TLSW) 6-4
#ForOurCity
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
Women's History Month - Celebrating Anousjka van Exel
Tuesday, March 19
WTEN | Coach Orford ESPN+ Halftime Interview
Monday, February 12
WTEN | 2023 Season Update with Dean Orford
Thursday, January 19
WTEN | American Tournament Semifinal Clinch
Friday, April 22