CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati tennis team wrapped up its fall season Friday night at the ITA Ohio Valley Region Championships with the Bearcats falling from the brackets in singles and doubles. Emma Miceli led the way with a win in the second round of the main draw while several of her teammates battled to the end in close losses, including freshman Kelli Niehaus, who nearly knocked of a 17-seed in the draw.
// TOTH TALKS
With action completed in Tennessee, Head Coach Eric Toth had the following to say about his team's play:
"We didn't quite get the breakthrough performance that I thought we were capable of, but I thought our girls competed awfully well. Emma Miceli's and Kelli Niehaus' play in singles were what really stood out over the two days of play. Our entire team has really gotten in some good match play over the last month which we hope will pay off when we begin our regular season in January. We have plenty to work on over the next couple of months on the practice court and I know our girls will continue to do a good job in that regard to ready us for the regular season."
// SINGLES PLAY
Miceli opened her day taking on Xavier's Anna Roggenburk, a 17-seed in the main draw, and swept her crosstown foe in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4. The Bearcat junior then took on 6-seed Tenika McGriffin (Tennessee) and fell in three sets, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2. She was one of three Bearcats playing in the second round Friday against a 17-seed.
Niehaus nearly pulled off the upset in her match as she took Carla Girbau (Kentucky) to a third-set tiebreaker before falling, 6-7 (4), 7-5, 7-6 (2). Caroline Morton also played in the second round, but fell to 17-seed Rhea Verma (Louisville), 6-3, 6-4.
In the B Draw, two Bearcats reached the third round, but both were bounced there. Claire Koscielski, the 4-seed in the bracket, was trailing 3-2 before retiring from the match. Anna Philp, a 9-seed, took 5-seed Polina Goloputova (Chattanooga) to three sets before falling, 6-2, 2-6, 6-2. The loss for Philp is the first of the season for the senior, who ends the fall with a 7-1 record.
// DOUBLES MATCHES
Three close doubles matches were played on the day with the Bearcats claiming victory in one. In the main draw, 9-seed Koscielski & Niehaus dropped an 8-4 decision to the team of Myers & Lysova (Miami) in the third round to see their tournament run come to an end. In the consolation rounds, UC's Miceli & Morton combined to win, 8-4, over the host school's duo of Mauro & Gupta (MTSU) while the team of Huser & Philp dropped a hard-fought match to the Belmont duo of Henry & Sheldon, 8-7 (2).
// CONSOLATION PLAY
Three other Bearcats played in consolation singles matches with one victory claimed. Alexia Coutino downed Amelia Campbell (UT Martin) in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2. Ioana Guna went three sets with Aarushi Kakkar (Tennessee State) before falling, 6-4, 2-6, 10-4, while Sofia Bruno took on Yunuen Elizarraras (ETSU) and fell, 6-0, 6-3.
// NEXT SERVE
The Bearcats' fall slate has now come to a close. UC will return to the courts in mid-January for the start of their 2020 dual season. A full release of the schedule will be posted on GoBearcats.com in the coming weeks.
2019 ITA Ohio Valley Region Championships
Adams Tennis Complex • Murfreesboro, Tenn.
October 18 • Day 2
SINGLES • Main Draw
Emma Miceli (2-1)
Second Round • Miceli def. [17] Anna Roggenburk (Xavier), 6-3, 6-4
Third Round • [6] Tenika McGiffin (Tennessee) def. Miceli, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
Caroline Morton (1-1)
Second Round • [17] Rhea Verma (Louisville) def. Morton, 6-3, 6-4
Kelli Niehaus (1-1)
Second Round • [17] Carla Girbau (Kentucky) def. Niehaus, 6-7 (4), 7-5, 7-6 (2)
SINGLES • Main Draw Consolation Matches
Alexia Coutino (1-1)
Coutino def. Amelia Campbell (UT Martin), 6-3, 6-2
Ioana Guna (0-2)
Aarushi Kakkar (TN State) def. Guna, 6-4, 2-6, 10-4
Sophia Bruno (0-2)
Yunuen Elizarraras (ETSU) def. Bruno, 6-0, 6-3
SINGLES • B Draw
#4 Claire Koscielski (1-1)
Third Round • Maddox Bandy (Lipscomb) over [4] Koscielski, 3-2, retired
#9 Anna Philp (2-1)
Third Round • [5] Polina Goloputova (Chattanooga) def. [9] Philp, 6-2, 2-6, 6-2
DOUBLES • Main Draw
#9 Claire Koscielski & Kelli Niehaus (1-1)
Third Round • M. Myers / M. Lysova (Miami) def. [9] Koscielski / Niehaus, 8-4
DOUBLES • Main Draw Consolation Matches
Amanda Huser & Anna Philp (0-2)
S. Henry / T. Sheldon (Belmont) def. Huser / Philp, 8-7 (2)
Emma Miceli & Caroline Morton (1-1)
Miceli / Morton def. N. Mauro / M. Gupta (MTSU), 8-4
Bearcats Gain Valuable Experience at ITA Ohio Valley Event
The University of Cincinnati tennis team wrapped up its fall season Friday night at the ITA Ohio Valley Region Championships with the Bearcats falling from the brackets in singles and doubles.
