ORLANDO, Fla. (April 10, 2010) --- In the final regular season match of the 2010 season, the FIU women's tennis team (12-7) defeated the UCF Golden Knights (11-6), 4-3, on Saturday, April 10 at the UCF Tennis Complex.
The No. 43-ranked Golden Panthers jumped out to a 1-0 lead following a sweep in doubles action. In the No. 1 doubles position the duo of Liset Brito and Priscilla Castillo defeated Jenny Frisell and Alexis Rodriguez (8-5) for their ninth victory of the season. The win improved the duo's career record together to 17-8. Mariana Muci Torres and Christine Seredni defeated Christy Core and Allison Hodges (8-4) while Maria Jose Vallasciani and Maria Spenceley downed Taylor Dubins and Andrea Yacaman (9-8 [11-9]).
In singles competition, FIU and UCF split the six matches, 3-a-piece. Brito (No. 92) won her fifth-straight singles match at the No. 1 position, defeating Frisell in straight sets (6-2, 6-2). With the win, Brito improved her season record to 13-4 and increased her career record to 45-18. Her 45 victories move the Miami, Fla., native to No. 16 on the school's all-time wins list (tied with Gabriela Calderon - 1999-96 & Maria Ycaza - 1993-96). Castillo defeated Hodges (6-3, 7-6) for her 12th singles victory of the year. The win was the 59th of her career (tied for No. 4 on the FIU all-time wins list - Paula Zabala - 2004-07). After dropping the first set of her match, 6-1, Vallasciani battled back to defeat Dubins (1-6, 7-6, 6-3). With the win Vallasciani improved her season record to 12-6. The Buenos Aires, Argentina, native moved to No. 22 (tied with Maria Dolores Pazo -2006-10 & Alison Vaughn - 1993-95) on the school's all-time singles win list with her 33rd on Saturday. UCF grabbed three points during singles play as Rodriguez defeated Seredni (2-6, 6-0, 6-4), Yacaman defeated Muci Torres (6-3, 6-4), and Doerfler defeated Spenceley (4-6, 7-5, 6-3).
The victory was the team's second-straight and seventh in its last nine outings.
FIU will next travel to New Orleans, La., to defend its conference title in the 2010 Sun Belt Tennis Tournament (April 23-25).
Tennis Match Results
Apr 10, 2010 at Orlando, Fla.
#43 FIU Golden Panthers 4, UCF Golden Knights 3
Singles competition
1. #92 Brito, Liset (FIU) def. Frisell, Jenny (UCF) 6-2, 6-2
2. Rodriguez, Alexis (UCF) def. Seredni, Christine (FIU) 2-6, 6-0, 6-4
3. Yacaman, Andrea (UCF) def. Muci, Mariana (FIU) 6-3, 6-4
4. Doerfler, Jenna (UCF) def. Spenceley, Maria (FIU) 4-6, 7-5, 6-3
5. Castillo, Priscilla (FIU) def. Hodges, Allison (UCF) 6-3, 7-6
6. Vallasciani, Maria (FIU) def. Dubins, Taylor (UCF) 1-6, 7-5, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Castillo, Priscilla/Brito, Liset (FIU) def. Frisell, Jenny/Rodriguez, Alexis (UCF) 8-5
2. Muci, Mariana/Seredni, Christine (FIU) def. Core, Christy/Hodges, Allison (UCF) 8-4
3. Vallasciani, Maria/Spenceley, Maria (FIU) def. Dubins, Taylor/Yacaman, Andrea (UCF) 9-8 (11-9)
Match Notes:
FIU Golden Panthers 12-7; National ranking #43
UCF Golden Knights 11-6
