BOCA RATON, Fla. – The UTSA women’s tennis team took down nationally ranked No. 55 Florida Atlantic by 4-3 in a determined battle on Friday at the Kimberly V. Strauss Tennis Center in Boca Raton, Fla.
This marks the Roadrunners’ first win over the Owls in two meetings. The victory is UTSA’s first ranked win of the 2024 season, as the No. 55 Florida Atlantic team is the highest-ranked team it has defeated in the 21stcentury.
UTSA opened up the match with a 1-0 advantage, fighting to win the doubles point early. The pairing of Cassie McLay and Aleksandra Zlatarova defeated the Owls’ Victoria Gomez O’Hayon and Millie-Mae Matthews by 6-3 at the first court. Following that, the No. 2 court duo Fatima Gutierrez/Ekua Youri clinched the doubles point by taking down Carla Galmiche and Lexi Silna, 6-4.
Florida Atlantic evened the score at 1-1 by opening up singles action with a win at the top spot, setting the tone for the back-and-forth battle that singles play would bring. At the No. 3 court, Vittoria Baccino regained the lead, 2-1, for UTSA by defeating Galmiche by set scores of 6-4 and 7-5. A win at the fourth court by the Owls evened the score once again at 2-2.
UTSA regained the lead, 3-2, as Zlatarova won a three-set battle at the No. 2 spot against Gomez O’Hayon (6-3, 3-6, 6-3). Once again, Florida Atlantic evened the score again, this time at 3-3 with a win at court five.
At the sixth court, Magda Tuells was battling through three sets with Owls’ opponent Maya Shanok. Shanok won the first set by 6-1. Then, Tuells bounced back with a 7-5 second set win, forcing a clinching third set. Unfaltering under pressure, Tuells came out victorious by 6-4 in the third set, clinching the 4-3 win for UTSA over No. 55 Florida Atlantic.
The Roadrunners improved to a 10-5 record, while Florida Atlantic fell to an 11-3 record.
Quoting Coach Ki Kroll
“As the teams were deadlocked at 3-3, Magda Tuells fought off two match points in the second set to come back and give us the win. I'm so proud of our team! It was an amazing fight and that shows the real level of this team. I was especially excited about our strong doubles performance, it was just a great team effort.”
The Roadrunners improved to a 10-5 record, while Florida Atlantic fell to an 11-3 record.
UTSA 4 – FLORIDA ATLANTIC 3
Doubles Results (UTSA 1, FAU 0)
Order of Finish: 1, 2
1. Aleksandra Zlatarova/Cassie McLay (UTSA) def. Victoria Gomez O’Hayon/Millie-Mae Matthews (FAU) 6-3
2. Fatima Gutierrez/Ekua Youri (UTSA) def. Carla Galmiche/Lexi Silna (FAU) 6-4
3. Vittoria Baccino/Magda Tuells (UTSA) vs. Panna Bartha/Amber McGinnis (FAU) 5-5
Singles Results (UTSA 3, FAU 3)
Order of Finish: 1, 3, 4, 2, 5, 6
1. Panna Bartha (FAU) def. Fatima Gutierrez (UTSA) 6-1, 7-6 (5)
2. Aleksandra Zlatarova (UTSA) def. Victoria Gomez O’Hayon (FAU) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
3. Vittoria Baccino (UTSA) def. Carla Galmiche (FAU) 6-4, 7-5
4. Lexi Silna (FAU) def. Cassie McLay (UTSA) 7-6 (5), 6-2
5. Millie-Mae Matthews (FAU) def. Ekua Youri (UTSA) 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
6. Magda Tuells (UTSA) def. Maya Shanok (FAU) 1-6, 7-5, 6-4
Up Next
The Roadrunners go head-to-head with No. 28 FIU in Miami at 9 a.m. CT/10 a.m. ET on Sunday.
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