CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati women's tennis team closed out its weekend on the road with a 5-2 loss to East Tennessee State in a neutral-site dual in Murfreesboro, Tenn., with the Bearcats securing points in doubles and at #6 singles. The Bearcats (6-3), which had their four-dual winning streak snapped, went 1-1 on the weekend after defeating Middle Tennessee State one day earlier.
// DROP SHOTS
• Cincinnati fell to 6-3 on the year and had its four-match winning streak snapped while East Tennessee State improved to 3-3
• The all-time series is tied, 1-1, after UC won in Cincinnati last year, 4-3
• Santilli is now 8-0 on the year in dual competition and has dropped only one set in that time
// TOTH TALKS
Following the match, Head Coach Eric Toth offered his thoughts on the play of his team:
"We just didn't play well enough today and that will get you beat pretty much every time against good teams," Toth said. "ETSU was a very determined team today and deserved today's win."
// DOUBLES MATCHES
UC got on the board first by taking two of three matches in doubles for a 1-0 lead. After falling at #1, the Bearcats would go on to win the next two matches to lock up the doubles point. First, the #3 tandem of Kelli Niehaus and Anna Philp combined to win, 6-3, before the #2 team of Alexia Coutino and Emma Miceli combined to clinch the point with their 6-4 win.
// SINGLES PLAY
The Bearcats' lead was short lived, unfortunately, as the Buccaneers tied things at 1-1 with a win at #4 singles where Miceli was unable to continue and retired because of an injury. UC came back for the next point, however, with Santilli grabbing a 6-0, 6-1 win at #6 to make it 2-1 in the Bearcats' favor. From there, though, ETSU would go on to win the remaining four singles matches to take the team win, 5-2.
// NEXT SERVE
The Bearcats return to the road for a pair of duals next week as they will take on both Tennessee and Indiana on their home courts. First, UC and UT will meet in Knoxville, Tenn., Friday at 9 a.m. before UC and IU face one another in Bloomington, Ind., Sunday at 11 a.m.
Dual #9 • Cincinnati vs. East Tennessee State
February 15, 2020 • Adams Tennis Complex (Murfreesboro, Tenn.)
East Tennessee State wins, 5-2
SINGLES
1 • Laylo Bakhodirova (ETS) def. Ioana Guna, 6-3, 6-2
2 • Alejandra Morales (ETS) def. Caroline Morton, 6-2, 7-5
3 • Andrea Pascual-Larrinaga (ETS) def. Alexia Coutino, 6-2, 7-5
4 • Maria Carvajal (ETS) def. Emma Miceli, 2-3, ret. (injury)
5 • Yunuen Elizarraras (ETS) def. Kelli Niehaus, 6-0, 6-3
6 • Maria Santilli (C) def. Michelle de Haan, 6-0, 6-1
Order of finish: 4-6-5-2-1-3
DOUBLES
1 • L. Bakhodirova / A. Morales (ETS) def. Guna / Morton, 6-1
2 • Coutino / Miceli (C) def. A. Pascual-Larrinaga / M. Carvajal, 6-4
3 • Niehaus / Anna Philp (C) def. Y. Elizarraras / M. de Haan, 6-3
Order of finish: 1-3-2
Tennis Falls to East Tennessee State, 5-2
The University of Cincinnati women's tennis team closed out its weekend on the road with a 5-2 loss to East Tennessee State in a neutral-site dual in Murfreesboro, Tenn., with the Bearcats securing points in doubles and at 6 singles.
