Box Score

ORLANDO - Despite a late surge in singles play, the Fighting Illini women's tennis team couldn't overcome a slow start as Illinois fell to UCF, 4-1, at the UCF Collegiate Tennis Center. The match wraps up a month-long road trip for the Illini, who will return home for a matchup against Rutgers on Friday, March 29. 

Central Florida secured the early one-point advantage with wins on doubles one and two. No. 31 Zeleva/Kuznetsova took down Switkes/Belaya on court one, 6-1, before Mattel/Stolmar clinched the doubles point with a 6-3 victory over Kawai/Rabinowitz. 

The Knights extended their lead in singles play with wins on courts two and six before No. 54 Asuka Kawai got the Illini on the board. The sophomore picked up her fifth win over an ITA-ranked singles opponent on court one, as the Palatine, Ill., native registered a 6-1, 6-3 victory over No. 41 Valeriya Zeleva.

Illinois continued its push by extending the matches to third sets on courts four and five, but UCF's Stolmar clinched the match with a 6-1, 7-6(5) win over Mia Rabinowitz on court two. 

Final Results

UCF 4, Illinois 1

Doubles-Order of Finish: 1, 2*

1. #31 Zeleva/Kuznetsova (UCF) def. Switkes/Belaya (Illinois) 6-1
2. Mattel/Stolmar (UCF) def. Kawai/Rabinowitz (Illinois) 6-3
3. Serrano/Turkovic (UCF) vs. Novak/Duong (Illinois) 6-6 (1-0), unf.

Singles-Order of Finish: 2, 6, 1, 3*

1. #54 Asuka Kawai (Illinois) def. #41 Valeriya Zeleva (UCF) 6-1, 6-3
2. #84 Ksenia Kuznetsova (UCF) def. Jaclyn Switkes (Illinois) 6-0, 6-0
3. Rebeka Stolmar (UCF) def. Mia Rabinowitz (Illinois) 6-1, 7-6(5)
4. Marie Mattel (UCF) vs. Sasha Belaya (Illinois) 6-2, 1-6, 3-2, unf.
5. Natalie Serrano (UCF) vs. Emilee Duong (Illinois) 6-3, 0-6, 3-1, unf.
6. Domenika Turkovic (UCF) def. Daniela Pedraza Novak (Illinois) 6-2, 6-2

Records: Illinois (6-9, 1-2 B1G) | UCF (17-2)

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