Tennis Battles to 4-3 Win over MTSU

CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati tennis team pulled out a tough 4-3 win on the road Friday at Middle Tennessee State as the Bearcats used a total team effort to claim their fourth victory in a row. The win pushed UC to 6-2 on the year as the Bearcats have recorded a four-dual winning streak or longer for the third time in the past four seasons under Head Coach Eric Toth.

// NOTES
• Cincinnati improved to 6-2 on the year while Middle Tennessee State fell to 3-5
• The Bearcats evened the all-time against the Blue Raiders at 1-1 with each team winning, 4-3
• UC has won four in a row, marking the third time in the past four seasons the team has won at least four in a row (4 in 2018-19 & 10 in a row in 2016-17)
• Maria Santilli won at #6 singles to keep her spring dual record perfect, moving to 7-0 in duals so far this year
• Kelli Niehaus won her match at #5 singles to clinch the winning point for UC, the first time she has done that this year

// TOTH TALKS
Following the match, Toth offered his thoughts on the play of his team:

"It took a really good effort to beat a good Middle Tennessee State team today," Toth said. "Again, it was a total team effort as everyone involved pretty much played a role in today's victory. Those are the wins that are always the most satisfying. It will take another great effort tomorrow to come out on top against East Tennessee State, another solid program."

// DOUBLES MATCHES
The Bearcats got on the board first as the claimed the doubles point following two tightly contested matches. UC grabbed the first of two wins at #2 with the duo of Alexia Coutino and Emma Miceli scoring a 6-3 victory. The #3 match went the way of the hosts as UC's Kelli Niehaus and Anna Philip dropped a 7-6 (4) decision. With the doubles point on the line, the Bearcats prevailed at #1 with Ioana Guna and Caroline Morton grabbing a 7-6 (6) victory.

// SINGLES PLAY
Despite the early lead, the Bearcats found themselves trailing early in singles as the dropped matches at both #2 and #3. With the score 2-1 in favor of MTSU, the Bearcats responded with Maria Santilli winning her #6 match, 6-1, 7-6 (5), to tied things at 2-2. Santilli is now 7-0 on the year in singles play and has dropped only one set.

With the dual tied, Guna was next to finish and scored a 2-6, 6-2, 6-2, come-from-behind win at #1 to give UC a 3-2 lead. Then, Niehaus won her match at #5 with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 score to clinch the dual with UC's fourth point of the day. With that win, the freshman clinched her first team dual as a member of the program. MTSU collected their final point at #4 to close the match.

// NEXT SERVE
The Bearcats will be back on the same courts tomorrow as they will face East Tennessee State in a neutral-site dual starting at 2 p.m. CT (3 p.m. ET).

Dual #8 • Cincinnati at Middle Tennessee State
February 14, 2020 • Adams Tennis Complex (Murfreesboro, Tenn.)
Cincinnati wins, 4-3
SINGLES
1 • Ioana Guna (C) def. Zani Barnard, 2-6, 6-2, 6-2
2 • Lee Barnard (MT) def. Caroline Morton, 6-2, 6-3
3 • Lidia Burrows (MT) def. Alexia Coutino, 6-2, 6-3
4 • Marta Peris Herrero (MT) def. Emma Miceli, 4-6, 7-6 (4), 1-0 (10-8)
5 • Kelli Niehaus (C) def. Muskan Gupta, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2
6 • Maria Santilli (C) def. Noelle Mauro, 6-1, 7-6 (5)
Order of finish: 2-3-6-1-5-4

DOUBLES
1 • Guna / Morton (C) def. M. Herrero / L. Burrows, 7-6 (6)
2 • Coutino / Miceli (C) def. L. Barnard / Z. Barnard, 6-3
3 • M. Gupta / N. Mauro (MT) def. Niehaus / Anna Philp, 7-6 (4)
Order of finish: 2-3-1