TicketsDALLAS - The University of Cincinnati women's tennis team wrapped up a trip to Dallas, Texas with a 5-2 loss to Georgia State in a non-conference match on Thursday afternoon.
// DOUBLES
Order of Finish: 2,1,3
No. 1 | Bellinger/Poggensee-Wei (CIN) def. Rehse/Muminovic (GSU) 6-4
No. 2 | Kamoe/Taluyenko (GSU) def. Hutchison/Miller (CIN) 6-1
No. 3 | Bramato/Morton (CIN) def. Ramirez/Grosheva (GSU) 7-6
The Bearcats started on a strong note, earning the doubles point with wins on courts No. 1 and 3. Lauren Bellinger (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Jerome) and Kelly Poggensee-Wei (Lake Villa, Ill./Grayslake North) earned a 6-4 victory while Antonella Bramato (Pachuca, Mexico/Elise Freinet) and Caroline Morton (Dubuque, Iowa/Evert Tennis Academy) picked up a tight 7-6 win to secure the point for UC.
// SINGLES
Order of Finish: 5,2,6,3,1,4
No. 1 | Kristin Rehse (GSU) def. Lauren Bellinger (CIN) 7-5, 6-3
No. 2 | Arina Taluyenko (GSU) def. Kelly Poggensee-Wei (CIN) 6-3, 6-2
No. 3 | Daniela Ramirez (GSU) def. Antonella Bramato (CIN) 6-4, 6-1
No. 4 | Caroline Morton (CIN) def. Anastasia Grosheva (GSU) 6-4, 2-6, 7-5
No. 5 | Damira Muminovic (GSU) def. Harley Hutchison (CIN) 6-1, 6-1
No. 6 | Tarani Kamoe (GSU) def. Katya Bure (CIN) 6-2, 6-4
The Bearcats couldn't find a rhythm during singles play, with a talented Georgia State team taking the first set on all but one court. The lone singles win for UC came from Morton on court No. 4, giving her a perfect 2-0 record in singles play during the week. Overall she is now tied for the team lead in singles wins with eight and has won five in a row.
// COACH TOTH ON THE BEARCATS
"Another great effort by our girls, but just came up short against a very good Georgia State team that I was really impressed with," stated head coach Eric Toth of the loss. "Obviously, the doubles set a great tone to today's match, unfortunately, we just got outplayed on too many courts in singles play. If we can keep this level of play up I still believe we can sneak up and beat one of these teams for that signature win."
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats will return home to Cincinnati for a pair of weekend matches on Friday, March 24 and Saturday, March 25. UC will face Butler on Friday at 3 p.m. before squaring off with Dayton on Saturday at 2 p.m. The matches are scheduled to be the first played outdoors this season at the Trabert-Talbert Tennis Center, weather permitting.