TicketsApril 14, 2010
CINCINNATI- For the second time in as many matches, the University of Cincinnati tennis team fell behind early, but used strong singles play to come back and defeat crosstown rival Xavier, 4-3, on Tuesday, April 13, at the Trabert-Talbert Tennis Center on UC's campus.
UC finished the regular season at 10-10, including a 3-3 mark in BIG EAST Conference play, but ended the regular season having won six of its final eight matches.
The win for Cincinnati was its second in a row over its neighboring rival and snapped an eight match winning streak by the Musketeers, as both schools prepare for postseason play.
Similarly to their previous match against Pittsburgh, the Bearcats fell behind early against Xavier, losing the doubles point, despite winning the No. 1 flight, 8-5, behind the play of sophomore Safiyya Ismail and junior Lindsey Lonergan.
Needing four wins in singles play to claim the victory, UC received strong play from veterans Ismail and junior Abby Mayo.
Ismail, playing in the No. 2 flight, won in straight sets, 7-5, 6-2. The win snapped a four-match losing streak for the Maineville, Ohio native, and she is 2-0 in her career against Xavier.
Mayo's win in the No. 6 flight, 6-3, 6-2, snapped a six-match losing streak and helped clinch the victory for the Bearcats. The junior from Loveland, Ohio, finishes the regular season with four wins.
Capping off the comeback was the stellar play of Caitlin O'Gara and Elise Woulfe. The two freshmen, who entered match play against Xavier with identical records, each needed just two sets to notch victories. O'Gara and Woulfe won 6-0, 6-4, and 7-6 (9-7), 6-1, respectively. Both wins improve their records to 13-9 apiece.
The Bearcats will now wait to see where they will be seeded in the BIG EAST Conference Championship, with first round matches slated to begin Thursday, April 22.
Check back to www.GoBEARCATS.com later this week for complete coverage, including match times and seedings.