April 17, 2008

Box Score

HOUSTON - In Thursday's second match of the 2008 Conference USA Women's Tennis Championship at the John E. Hoff Courts on the campus of the University of Houston, No. 7 UCF swept No. 10 Memphis, 4-0. The Knights won at doubles spots Nos. 2 and 3 to grab the early lead and claimed three straight-set wins in singles to advance to Friday's quarterfinals.

UCF defeated the Tigers in both or their meetings in 2008 by identical scores of 4-0 and it has now won four matches in a row.

Doubles play began the match and UCF grabbed the 1-0 lead with convincing wins by the duos of Elvira Serrot/Jenny Carati and Kenza Belbacha/Anna Yakimchenkova. Serrot/Carati were winners over Ekin Zafir and Kristin Chamberlain, while Belbacha/Yakimchenkova took out Amanda Brown/Dara Toulch.

Serrot and Carati have won 11-straight doubles matches for a 17-6 record, including a 12-3 mark at No. 2. Belbacha and Yakimchenkova improved to 11-5 at the No. 3 line this spring with the wins.

In singles, the Knights received wins from Serrot, Yakimchenkova and Kyla McNicol. Serrot defeated Majorie Ondeck at the No. 2 line 6-0, 6-1, and has won five consecutive matches en route to 15 total victories on the season.

McNicol and Yakimchenkova each grabbed their team-leading 18th wins on the season. McNicol downed Brown 6-0, 6-3, at No. 3, while Yakimchenkova outlasted Chamberlain 6-0, 6-2.

In its first two appearances in the C-USA Championship, UCF has also won its first match 4-0 each time, but went on to suffer quarterfinal losses. In all, the Knights have a 2-2 all-time record in the championship.

UCF advances to face No. 2 Marshall at 2 p.m. on Friday in the second set of quarterfinal match-ups and improves to 12-8 on the spring. Memphis concluded its season at 9-13.