TAMPA – The No. 42 FIU women's tennis team rallied from a 3-0 deficit to post its 12^th win over its last 13 matches with a 4-3 victory over No. 55 Rice on Saturday afternoon at the USF Varsity Tennis Courts in Tampa.
 
Senior Basak Akbas capped the comeback with a thrilling come-from-behind win of her own in the No. 6 singles match that saw her battle back for a victory after dropping a 6-0 decision in the opening set.  She followed with 7-6 (7-5) and 6-1 wins in the following two sets to defeat Rice's Saara Oray and clinch the decisive fourth point for the Panthers.
 
Sophomore Andjela Skrobonja tabbed a convincing 6-3, 6-3 win at No. 3 and senior Kamila Umarova notched a 6-3, 7-5 victory at No. 2 before freshman Yasmine Kabbaj posted a 6-2, 7-6 (8-6) triumph in the No. 1 position to set up Akbas for the opportunity to seal the match.
 
The Panthers fell behind early after dropping the doubles point as the Owls claimed a win in both the No. 1 and No. 2 clashes.  Rice also posted wins in each of the opening singles matches before FIU ripped off four straight wins.
 
Umarova currently boasts a 14-match winning streak in singles play, while Kabbaj has recorded nine straight victories, all while playing in the No. 1 position. 
 
The win improves the Panthers' overall mark to 14-3 on the season.  Rice drops to 12-6 following the loss.
 
UP NEXT
The Panthers will take on USF on Sunday, April 3 at 12 p.m. ET in Tampa before heading home for their final dual match of the season against rival FAU on Friday, April 8 at the FIU Tennis Center.
 
Rice vs FIU
4/2/2022 at Tampa, Fla.
(USF Varsity Tennis Courts)
#42 FIU 4, #55 Rice 3
 
Singles
1. Yasmine Kabbaj (FIU) def. Federica Trevisan (RICE) 6-2, 7-6 (8-6)
2. Kamila Umarova (FIU) def. Anastasia Smirnova (RICE) 6-3, 7-5
3. Andjela Skrobonja (FIU) def. Allison Zipoli (RICE) 6-3, 6-3
4. Anna Bowtell (RICE) def. Kristina Miletic (FIU) 6-0, 7-6 (8-6)
5. Maria Budin (RICE) def. Andreea Velcea (FIU) 6-3, 6-3
6. Basak Akbas (FIU) def. Saara Orav (RICE) 0-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-1
 
Doubles
1. #28 Maria Budin/Diae El Jardi (RICE) def. Andjela Skrobonja/Kamila Umarova (FIU) 7-6
2. Anastasia Smirnova/Allison Zipoli (RICE) def. Kristina Miletic/Andreea Velcea (FIU) 6-3
 
Match Notes
Rice 12-6; National ranking #55
FIU 14-3; National ranking #42
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (5,4,3,2,1,6)