MIAMI (March 30, 2011) - The FIU women's tennis team picked up its ninth-straight win, defeating the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles, 6-1, on Wednesday, March 30, at the FIU Tennis Courts.
The victory improved the Panthers to 10-5 on the year and marked the team's 10th-straight home victory (dating back to last season).
FIU got on the board first, taking 2-of-3 doubles matches to start the contest. The duo of Liset Brito and Maria Spenceley downed Iris Rendon and Bettina Botha, 8-3. The win was the fifth-straight for Brito and Spenceley and improved there doubles record to 9-4 on the year. Juniors Christine Seredni and Lisa Johnson clinched the doubles point with an 8-3 victory over Morgan Bechtel and Gyanna Mandic. The win proved to be the team's first of the 2011 dual season.
In singles play, FIU won five matches, including the contest-clinching, 7-6 (4), 6-4, victory by Johnson. Last week's Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week improved her singles record to 9-6. Both Brito and Spenceley extended their consecutive-match winning-streak to nine with victories on Wednesday. Brito defeated Bechtel in straight sets, 6-0, 6-1, while Spenceley knocked off Mandic, 6-2, 6-2. Also picking up wins over the Eagles were Seredni (4-6, 6-3, 10-4 over Rendon) and Giulietta Boha (7-6 [5], 6-1 over Bibiana Almeida).
The Panthers will host the No. 37-ranked SMU Mustangs on Sunday, April 3. The match is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. ET
Tennis Match Results
Florida Gulf Coast vs FIU Panthers
Mar 30, 2011 at Miami, Fla.
#62 FIU Panthers 6, Florida Gulf Coast 1
Singles competition
1. #57 Brito, Liset (FIU) def. Bechtel, Morgan (FGCU) 6-0, 6-1
2. Seredni, Christine (FIU) def. Rendon, Iris (FGCU) 4-6, 6-4, 10-4
3. Johnson, Lisa (FIU) def. Botha, Bettina (FGCU) 7-6 (7-4), 6-4
4. Evans, Jen (FGCU) def. Maisak, Rita (FIU) retired
5. Spenceley, Maria (FIU) def. Mandic, Gyanna (FGCU) 6-2, 6-2
6. Boha, Giulietta (FIU) def. Almeida, Bibiana (FGCU) 7-6 (7-5), 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Brito, Liset/Spenceley, Maria (FIU) def. Rendon, Iris/Botha, Bettina (FGCU) 8-3
2. Seredni, Christine/Johnson, Lisa (FIU) def. Mandic, Gyanna/Bechtel, Morgan (FGCU) 8-3
3. Almeida, Bibiana/Evans, Jen (FGCU) def. Maisak, Rita/Boha, Giulietta (FIU) retired
Match Notes:
Florida Gulf Coast 9-7
FIU Panthers 10-5; National ranking #62
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (4,1,5,3,6,2)
