TicketsCINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati women's tennis team earned a 4-3 win over in-state opponent Cleveland State inside Western Athletic Club on Friday.
With the win, Cincinnati improves to 3-6 overall, 0-0 in the AAC on the season.
"I was really proud of the team tonight," head coach Eric Toth said. "We have a couple of players that are less than 100 percent right now and we needed others to step up and close the match out quickly before it got interesting. We have another big match on Sunday. Miami (OH) is a rivalry match; these are contests you circle and set out to win. They have been very good this season and will provide another test for our team."
The Bearcats secured the initial point by securing wins on doubles courts one and three. The pair of sophomore Elizabeth Pendergast and redshirt junior Sofia Bruno raced out to an early lead and maintained it for the course of their match to win 6-2 at position three. Cleveland State responded on court two to even the score at one before sophomore Callie Flanagan and redshirt junior Cassie McLay clinched the first point on the board with a 6-3 win at the top position.
Cincinnati extended its margin to four with straight-set victories on the back three singles positions. Flanagan took 12 of the 14 points on court five to win 6-2, 6-0 before freshman Katie Ferguson claimed court six 6-2, 6-1. Redshirt junior Kelli Niehaus clinched the match with the third-consecutive straight-set win, 6-4, 6-2, on court four.
McLay, Santilli and Pendergast battled to force third-set tiebreakers, but the Vikings earned singles wins on the top three courts for the eventual final.
Cincinnati travels to take on rival Miami (OH) inside Riverside Athletic Club on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. ET.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati women's tennis, please visit GoBEARCATS.com and follow @GoBearcatsWTEN on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
RESULTS
Cincinnati 4, Cleveland State 3
Feb. 17, 2023 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Western Athletic Club
Doubles
1. Callie Flanagan / Cassie McLay (CIN) def. Sima Heren / Bethany Yauch (CSU), 6-3
2. Filippa Frogner / Selma Tounsi (CSU) def. Kelli Niehaus / Maria Santilli (CIN), 6-3
3. Sofia Bruno / Elizabeth Pendergast (CIN) def. Ella Franz / Tereze Vevere (CSU), 6-2
ORDER OF FINISH: 3,2,1
Singles
1. Oihane Vicario (CSU) def. Elizabeth Pendergast (CIN), 6-1, 6-7 (9-7), 1-0 (10-6)
2. Bethany Yauch (CSU) def. Cassie McLay (CIN), 6-1, 3-6, 1-0 (10-5)
3. Tereze Vevere (CSU) def. Maria Santilli (CIN), 6-4, 2-6, 6-2
4. Kelli Niehaus (CIN) def. Sima Heren (CSU), 6-4, 6-2
5. Callie Flanagan (CIN) def. Avery Durham (CSU), 6-2, 6-0
6. Katie Ferguson (CIN) def. Filippa Frognor (CSU), 6-2, 6-1
ORDER OF FINISH: 5,6,4,2,1,3
With the win, Cincinnati improves to 3-6 overall, 0-0 in the AAC on the season.
"I was really proud of the team tonight," head coach Eric Toth said. "We have a couple of players that are less than 100 percent right now and we needed others to step up and close the match out quickly before it got interesting. We have another big match on Sunday. Miami (OH) is a rivalry match; these are contests you circle and set out to win. They have been very good this season and will provide another test for our team."
The Bearcats secured the initial point by securing wins on doubles courts one and three. The pair of sophomore Elizabeth Pendergast and redshirt junior Sofia Bruno raced out to an early lead and maintained it for the course of their match to win 6-2 at position three. Cleveland State responded on court two to even the score at one before sophomore Callie Flanagan and redshirt junior Cassie McLay clinched the first point on the board with a 6-3 win at the top position.
Cincinnati extended its margin to four with straight-set victories on the back three singles positions. Flanagan took 12 of the 14 points on court five to win 6-2, 6-0 before freshman Katie Ferguson claimed court six 6-2, 6-1. Redshirt junior Kelli Niehaus clinched the match with the third-consecutive straight-set win, 6-4, 6-2, on court four.
McLay, Santilli and Pendergast battled to force third-set tiebreakers, but the Vikings earned singles wins on the top three courts for the eventual final.
Cincinnati travels to take on rival Miami (OH) inside Riverside Athletic Club on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. ET.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati women's tennis, please visit GoBEARCATS.com and follow @GoBearcatsWTEN on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
RESULTS
Cincinnati 4, Cleveland State 3
Feb. 17, 2023 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Western Athletic Club
Doubles
1. Callie Flanagan / Cassie McLay (CIN) def. Sima Heren / Bethany Yauch (CSU), 6-3
2. Filippa Frogner / Selma Tounsi (CSU) def. Kelli Niehaus / Maria Santilli (CIN), 6-3
3. Sofia Bruno / Elizabeth Pendergast (CIN) def. Ella Franz / Tereze Vevere (CSU), 6-2
ORDER OF FINISH: 3,2,1
Singles
1. Oihane Vicario (CSU) def. Elizabeth Pendergast (CIN), 6-1, 6-7 (9-7), 1-0 (10-6)
2. Bethany Yauch (CSU) def. Cassie McLay (CIN), 6-1, 3-6, 1-0 (10-5)
3. Tereze Vevere (CSU) def. Maria Santilli (CIN), 6-4, 2-6, 6-2
4. Kelli Niehaus (CIN) def. Sima Heren (CSU), 6-4, 6-2
5. Callie Flanagan (CIN) def. Avery Durham (CSU), 6-2, 6-0
6. Katie Ferguson (CIN) def. Filippa Frognor (CSU), 6-2, 6-1
ORDER OF FINISH: 5,6,4,2,1,3