LOUISVILLE, Ky. – University of Cincinnati women's tennis battled back to tie the match twice before falling 5-2 to Louisville inside Bass-Rudd Tennis Center on Friday.
"I am really happy with how we competed today," said head coach Eric Toth. "We had chances to win for sure, but Louisville being better in doubles and in the clutch moments today was the difference. Marshall presents another challenge on Sunday. I know that our team is happy to finally be playing a home match and that it provide us a little boost against a really good Marshall team."
Cincinnati is now 2-5 on the season.
Cincinnati responded to dropping the doubles point by securing two of the first three singles points. Redshirt junior Kelli Niehaus secured the Bearcats' first point after her match was retired on court three. Freshman Katie Ferguson earned her second singles win of the dual match season with a straight-set score of 6-3, 6-3.
Sophomores Elizabeth Pendergast and Callie Flanagan took their opponents to a third-set tiebreaks, but the Cardinals claimed three more singles courts to secure the match win.
Cincinnati hosts its home opener against Marshall inside Western Athletic Club on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET.
RESULTS
Louisville 5, Cincinnati 2
Feb. 10, 2023 | Louisville, Ky. | Bass-Rudd Tennis Center
Doubles
1. Callie Flanagan / Cassie McLay (UC) vs. Rhea Verma / Andrea Di Palma (LOU), 3-2 (unfinished)
2. Cici Xin / Jamilah Snells (LOU) def. Kelli Niehaus / Maria Santilli (UC), 6-0
3. Sasha Gorchanyuk / Maria Campos (LOU) def. Sofia Bruno / Elizabeth Pendergast (UC), 6-1
ORDER OF FINISH: 2,3
Singles
1. Andrea Di Palma (LOU) def. Elizabeth Pendergast (UC), 7-5, 4-6, 6-3
2. Jamilah Snells (LOU) def. Cassie McLay (UC), 6-1, 6-4
3. Rhea Verma (LOU) def. Maria Santilli (UC), 4-6, 7-5, 6-3
4. Kelli Niehaus (UC) def. Cici Xin (LOU), 4-3 (retired due to injury)
5. Tyra Richardson (LOU) def. Callie Flanagan (UC), 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
6. Katie Ferguson (UC) def. Arielle Nealy (LOU), 6-3, 6-3
ORDER OF FINISH: 4,2,6,5,1,3
Cincinnati Falls at Louisville
University of Cincinnati women's tennis battled back to tie the match twice before falling 5-2 to Louisville inside Bass-Rudd Tennis Center on Friday.
