TicketsHUNTINGTON, W.V. – The University of Cincinnati tennis team defeated Middle Tennessee, 4-1, in a neutral site matchup at Marshall University's Brian David Fox Tennis Center Saturday afternoon.
The Bearcats improve to 14-4 on the season while Middle Tennessee moves to 9-11 overall.
UC earned the doubles point following wins by freshman Elizabeth Pendergast and redshirt sophomore Cassie McLay on court one and freshman Callie Flanagan and redshirt sophomore Kelli Niehaus on court three.
Middle Tennessee earned their only point in the match with a win on court four over redshirt junior Maria Santilli, who moves to 10-5 on the season.
Niehaus came back on court six following a 2-6 loss in set one to win set two 6-3 and set three 6-1. She improves to 13-1 in singles on the season.
Redshirt senior Emma Miceli continues to dominate in her last season as a Bearcat, winning on court five in two sets and improves to 13-4 in singles play.
Pendergast battled in set two to win the tiebreaker on court one and improves to 7-9 on the season.
COACH TOTH QUOTE
"Another gritty performance out of our girls. We started so poorly in singles, and it looked early on like it may not be our day. But give our girls credit for making the adjustments we needed to on each court and simply raising the level of our play to earn todays win."
RESULTS
Cincinnati 4, Middle Tennessee 1
4/2/2022 at Huntington, West Virginia
Brian David Fox Tennis Center
Doubles
1. Cassie McLay / Elizabeth Pendergast (UC) def. Lee Barnard / Noelle Mauro (MTSU), 6-2
2. Ioana Guna / Emma Miceli (UC) vs. Muskan Gupta / Zani Bardnard (MTSU), 5-2 (DNF)
3. Callie Flanagan / Kelli Niehaus (UC) def. Love-Star Alexis / Eloise Swarbrick (MTSU), 6-2
Singles
1. Elizabeth Pendergast (UC) def. Lee Barnard (MTSU), 6-4, 7-6(4)
2. Ioana Guna (UC) vs. Muskan Gupta (MTSU), 3-6, 6-3, 2-2 (DNF)
3. Cassie McLay (UC) vs. Love-Star Alexis, 6-7(5), 5-5 (DNF)
4. Zani Barnard (MTSU) def. Maria Santilli (UC), 6-2, 6-2
5. Emma Miceli (UC) def. Noelle Mauro (MTSU), 6-3, 7-5
6. Kelli Niehaus (UC) def. Lilly-Sophie Schmidt (MTSU), 2-6, 6-3, 6-1
UP NEXT
The Bearcats have a quick turnaround when they face-off against Marshall University in Huntington at 10 a.m.
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.
The Bearcats improve to 14-4 on the season while Middle Tennessee moves to 9-11 overall.
UC earned the doubles point following wins by freshman Elizabeth Pendergast and redshirt sophomore Cassie McLay on court one and freshman Callie Flanagan and redshirt sophomore Kelli Niehaus on court three.
Middle Tennessee earned their only point in the match with a win on court four over redshirt junior Maria Santilli, who moves to 10-5 on the season.
Niehaus came back on court six following a 2-6 loss in set one to win set two 6-3 and set three 6-1. She improves to 13-1 in singles on the season.
Redshirt senior Emma Miceli continues to dominate in her last season as a Bearcat, winning on court five in two sets and improves to 13-4 in singles play.
Pendergast battled in set two to win the tiebreaker on court one and improves to 7-9 on the season.
COACH TOTH QUOTE
"Another gritty performance out of our girls. We started so poorly in singles, and it looked early on like it may not be our day. But give our girls credit for making the adjustments we needed to on each court and simply raising the level of our play to earn todays win."
RESULTS
Cincinnati 4, Middle Tennessee 1
4/2/2022 at Huntington, West Virginia
Brian David Fox Tennis Center
Doubles
1. Cassie McLay / Elizabeth Pendergast (UC) def. Lee Barnard / Noelle Mauro (MTSU), 6-2
2. Ioana Guna / Emma Miceli (UC) vs. Muskan Gupta / Zani Bardnard (MTSU), 5-2 (DNF)
3. Callie Flanagan / Kelli Niehaus (UC) def. Love-Star Alexis / Eloise Swarbrick (MTSU), 6-2
Singles
1. Elizabeth Pendergast (UC) def. Lee Barnard (MTSU), 6-4, 7-6(4)
2. Ioana Guna (UC) vs. Muskan Gupta (MTSU), 3-6, 6-3, 2-2 (DNF)
3. Cassie McLay (UC) vs. Love-Star Alexis, 6-7(5), 5-5 (DNF)
4. Zani Barnard (MTSU) def. Maria Santilli (UC), 6-2, 6-2
5. Emma Miceli (UC) def. Noelle Mauro (MTSU), 6-3, 7-5
6. Kelli Niehaus (UC) def. Lilly-Sophie Schmidt (MTSU), 2-6, 6-3, 6-1
UP NEXT
The Bearcats have a quick turnaround when they face-off against Marshall University in Huntington at 10 a.m.
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.