TicketsCINNCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati women's tennis team defeated Western Kentucky, 6-1, on Saturday at Western Athletic Club.
The Bearcats swept the doubles point and never looked back en route to improving to 4-7 overall and 2-1 at home on the season.
"Everyone is happy to earn win number four today," head coach Eric Toth said. "I thought Western Kentucky competed really hard and played us tough coming off a long, hard-fought match last night. Heading into the second half of the year we still have a lot to improve upon I feel. I'm hopeful this team will make a bit of a jump in our level of play, which I feel will be necessary as our schedule does not let up."
The doubles team of redshirt junior Sofia Bruno and sophomore Elizabeth Pendergast started the match fast with a 6-3 win on Court 3 before the duo of redshirt junior Kellie Niehaus and freshman Katie Ferguson clinched the doubles point with a 6-2 win of their own on Court 2.
Redshirt junior Cassie McLay and sophomore Callie Flanagan match against Sunskrithi Damera and Sayda Hernandez (WKU) was unfinished.
Quick straight set victories from Ferguson (6-2, 6-0) on Court 6 and Niehaus (6-2, 6-1) on Court 4 gave UC a 3-0 advantage early in singles play.
Flanagan clinched the victory with a hard-fought 7-6 (3), 6-4 win on Court 4 before McClay added to the team victory with a 7-6 (7), 6-3 win on Court 2.
Pendergast also fought back for an impressive three-set victory on Court 1. She won the first set, 6-4, but dropped the second set, 7-6 (8), to WKU No. 1 Paola Cortez, before rallying to take the third set, 10-8.
Redshirt junior Maria Santilli fell to WKU Rachel Hermanova 7-6 (3), 6-1 on Court 3.
Cincinnati 6, Western Kentucky 1
Feb. 25, 2023 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Western Athletic Club
Doubles
1. Cassie McLay / Callie Flanagan (UC) def. Sunskrithi Damera / Sayda Hernandez (WKU), unf.
2. Kelli Niehaus / Katie Ferguson (UC) def. Paola Cortex / Mariana Zegada (WKU), 6-2
3. Sofia Bruno / Elizabeth Pendergast (UC) def. Rachel Hermanova / Samantha Martinez (WKU), 6-3
ORDER OF FINISH: 2, 3, 1
Singles
1. Elizabeth Pendergast (UC) def. Paola Cortez (WKU), 6-4, 6-7 (8), 10-8
2. Cassie McLay (UC) def. Sayda Hernandez (WKU) 7-6 (7), 6-3
3. Rachel Hermanova (WKU) def. Maria Santilli (UC), 7-6 (3), 6-1
4. Kelli Niehaus (UC) def. Sunskrithi Damera (WKU), 6-2, 6-1
5. Callie Flanagan (UC) def. Mariana Zegada (UC), 7-6 (3), 6-4
6. Katie Ferguson (UC) def. Samantha Martinez (WKU), 6-2, 6-0
ORDER OF FINISH: 6, 4, 5, 3, 5, 2, 1
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats have an extended break until a two-match road trip in Florida at USF (March 14) and FGCU (March 16). The Bearcats return home on March 22 vs. Dayton.
The Bearcats swept the doubles point and never looked back en route to improving to 4-7 overall and 2-1 at home on the season.
"Everyone is happy to earn win number four today," head coach Eric Toth said. "I thought Western Kentucky competed really hard and played us tough coming off a long, hard-fought match last night. Heading into the second half of the year we still have a lot to improve upon I feel. I'm hopeful this team will make a bit of a jump in our level of play, which I feel will be necessary as our schedule does not let up."
The doubles team of redshirt junior Sofia Bruno and sophomore Elizabeth Pendergast started the match fast with a 6-3 win on Court 3 before the duo of redshirt junior Kellie Niehaus and freshman Katie Ferguson clinched the doubles point with a 6-2 win of their own on Court 2.
Redshirt junior Cassie McLay and sophomore Callie Flanagan match against Sunskrithi Damera and Sayda Hernandez (WKU) was unfinished.
Quick straight set victories from Ferguson (6-2, 6-0) on Court 6 and Niehaus (6-2, 6-1) on Court 4 gave UC a 3-0 advantage early in singles play.
Flanagan clinched the victory with a hard-fought 7-6 (3), 6-4 win on Court 4 before McClay added to the team victory with a 7-6 (7), 6-3 win on Court 2.
Pendergast also fought back for an impressive three-set victory on Court 1. She won the first set, 6-4, but dropped the second set, 7-6 (8), to WKU No. 1 Paola Cortez, before rallying to take the third set, 10-8.
Redshirt junior Maria Santilli fell to WKU Rachel Hermanova 7-6 (3), 6-1 on Court 3.
Cincinnati 6, Western Kentucky 1
Feb. 25, 2023 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Western Athletic Club
Doubles
1. Cassie McLay / Callie Flanagan (UC) def. Sunskrithi Damera / Sayda Hernandez (WKU), unf.
2. Kelli Niehaus / Katie Ferguson (UC) def. Paola Cortex / Mariana Zegada (WKU), 6-2
3. Sofia Bruno / Elizabeth Pendergast (UC) def. Rachel Hermanova / Samantha Martinez (WKU), 6-3
ORDER OF FINISH: 2, 3, 1
Singles
1. Elizabeth Pendergast (UC) def. Paola Cortez (WKU), 6-4, 6-7 (8), 10-8
2. Cassie McLay (UC) def. Sayda Hernandez (WKU) 7-6 (7), 6-3
3. Rachel Hermanova (WKU) def. Maria Santilli (UC), 7-6 (3), 6-1
4. Kelli Niehaus (UC) def. Sunskrithi Damera (WKU), 6-2, 6-1
5. Callie Flanagan (UC) def. Mariana Zegada (UC), 7-6 (3), 6-4
6. Katie Ferguson (UC) def. Samantha Martinez (WKU), 6-2, 6-0
ORDER OF FINISH: 6, 4, 5, 3, 5, 2, 1
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats have an extended break until a two-match road trip in Florida at USF (March 14) and FGCU (March 16). The Bearcats return home on March 22 vs. Dayton.