TicketsCINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati tennis program fell Thursday morning at the American Athletic Conference Championships to the University of South Florida in Orlando, Florida.
The 9-seeded Bearcats took an early advantage after securing the doubles point over the 8-seeded Bulls to start the match. Heading into singles play the Bearcats dropped four singles points, allowing the Bulls to secure a come from behind victory aiding their advancement to the next round on Friday.
THE BREAKDOWN
USF's Laura Pellicer was able to even the match at one all after securing a (6-2,6-1) two-set sweep over UC's Ioana Guna, who just two weeks ago clenched a third set stunner to award the Bearcat's a win over Marshall University.
Over on court two, Cassie McLay, who aided the bearcats in their 500th all-time program win just last week, struggled to find her rhythm against Bull's Grace Schumacher. Schumacher, got off to an early lead after securing the first set 6-3. McLay battled back to start the second set but unfortunately fell short after Schumacher put away the second set 6-2.
Kelli Niehaus looked to regurgitate her success from doubles play against Margriet Timmermans to kick off singles play. Niehaus gave up the first set but battled through four with Timmermans to start the second set. With a 5-4 advantage over Niehaus, Timmermans edged out the second set with a strategically placed sixth point.
Maria Santilli, Emma Miceli, and Alexia Coutino battled to keep the Bearcats alive but fell just short after the Bulls secured their fourth point over Santilli to end the match 4-1.
TOTH ON THE MATCH
"Unfortunately, we just could not sustain our level of play in singles on too many courts after a great doubles point that went our way. USF always has tough players that make a lot of balls and compete well. They never make it easy and that was the case today."…."Our team should really be commended the way they have handled all that was thrown at them during this Covid year. They have been a fun team for Kat and I to coach and I am very proud of the way they have shown up all year and always gave it their best shot".…" finally, I would like to recognize Amanda Huser, Kim Gintrand, and Alexia Coutino who finished their careers today. All three have been very good teammates and always represented UC to the very best of their ability. All three will be missed."
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati tennis, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the team (@GoBearcatsWTEN) and Head Coach Eric Toth (@EricToth1) on Twitter. You can also find the Bearcats on Instagram and Facebook
RESULTS
Cincinnati vs USF
Apr 21, 2021 at Orlando, Florida
(USTA National Campus)
USF 4, Cincinnati 1
SINGLES
1. Laura Pellicer (USF) def. Ioana Guna (CIN) 6-2, 6-1
2. Grace Schumacher (USF) def. Cassie McLay (CIN) 6-3, 6-2
3. Evelyne Tiron (USF) def. Maria Santilli (CIN) 6-3, 6-4
4. Alexandria Mjos (USF) vs. Emma Miceli (CIN) 4-6, 6-4, unfinished
5. Margriet Timmermans (USF) def. Kelli Niehaus (CIN) 6-2, 6-4
6. Lucia Garrigues (USF) vs. Alexia Coutino (CIN) 3-6, 5-5, unfinished
DOUBLES
1. Alexia Coutino/Cassie McLay (CIN) def. Grace Eland/Laura Pellicer (USF) 7-5
2. Grace Schumacher/Margriet Timmermans (USF) def. Kim Gintrand/Ioana Guna (CIN) 6-3
3. Emma Miceli/Kelli Niehaus (CIN) def. Alexandria Mjos/Evelyne Tiron (USF) 6-4
MATCH NOTES
Cincinnati 6-10
USF 8-14
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (1,2,5,3)
American Athletic Conference Women's Tennis Championship First Round
The 9-seeded Bearcats took an early advantage after securing the doubles point over the 8-seeded Bulls to start the match. Heading into singles play the Bearcats dropped four singles points, allowing the Bulls to secure a come from behind victory aiding their advancement to the next round on Friday.
THE BREAKDOWN
USF's Laura Pellicer was able to even the match at one all after securing a (6-2,6-1) two-set sweep over UC's Ioana Guna, who just two weeks ago clenched a third set stunner to award the Bearcat's a win over Marshall University.
Over on court two, Cassie McLay, who aided the bearcats in their 500th all-time program win just last week, struggled to find her rhythm against Bull's Grace Schumacher. Schumacher, got off to an early lead after securing the first set 6-3. McLay battled back to start the second set but unfortunately fell short after Schumacher put away the second set 6-2.
Kelli Niehaus looked to regurgitate her success from doubles play against Margriet Timmermans to kick off singles play. Niehaus gave up the first set but battled through four with Timmermans to start the second set. With a 5-4 advantage over Niehaus, Timmermans edged out the second set with a strategically placed sixth point.
Maria Santilli, Emma Miceli, and Alexia Coutino battled to keep the Bearcats alive but fell just short after the Bulls secured their fourth point over Santilli to end the match 4-1.
TOTH ON THE MATCH
"Unfortunately, we just could not sustain our level of play in singles on too many courts after a great doubles point that went our way. USF always has tough players that make a lot of balls and compete well. They never make it easy and that was the case today."…."Our team should really be commended the way they have handled all that was thrown at them during this Covid year. They have been a fun team for Kat and I to coach and I am very proud of the way they have shown up all year and always gave it their best shot".…" finally, I would like to recognize Amanda Huser, Kim Gintrand, and Alexia Coutino who finished their careers today. All three have been very good teammates and always represented UC to the very best of their ability. All three will be missed."
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati tennis, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the team (@GoBearcatsWTEN) and Head Coach Eric Toth (@EricToth1) on Twitter. You can also find the Bearcats on Instagram and Facebook
RESULTS
Cincinnati vs USF
Apr 21, 2021 at Orlando, Florida
(USTA National Campus)
USF 4, Cincinnati 1
SINGLES
1. Laura Pellicer (USF) def. Ioana Guna (CIN) 6-2, 6-1
2. Grace Schumacher (USF) def. Cassie McLay (CIN) 6-3, 6-2
3. Evelyne Tiron (USF) def. Maria Santilli (CIN) 6-3, 6-4
4. Alexandria Mjos (USF) vs. Emma Miceli (CIN) 4-6, 6-4, unfinished
5. Margriet Timmermans (USF) def. Kelli Niehaus (CIN) 6-2, 6-4
6. Lucia Garrigues (USF) vs. Alexia Coutino (CIN) 3-6, 5-5, unfinished
DOUBLES
1. Alexia Coutino/Cassie McLay (CIN) def. Grace Eland/Laura Pellicer (USF) 7-5
2. Grace Schumacher/Margriet Timmermans (USF) def. Kim Gintrand/Ioana Guna (CIN) 6-3
3. Emma Miceli/Kelli Niehaus (CIN) def. Alexandria Mjos/Evelyne Tiron (USF) 6-4
MATCH NOTES
Cincinnati 6-10
USF 8-14
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (1,2,5,3)
American Athletic Conference Women's Tennis Championship First Round