FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Columbia women's tennis team fell short of the upset bid Sunday afternoon in Fort Myers as No. 23 UCF took the 4-2 victory.
Columbia is now 1-1 to start the season after defeating Florida Gulf Coast in the season opener last Monday. After playing in Florida for the first two matches of the season, Columbia will play Maryland and Hofstra in a home opening doubleheader on Friday.
The Lions shined in doubles play Sunday to start the match. The top Columbia duo of
Fatima Keita and
Malak El Allami cruised to a 6-2 victory over Aya El Aouni and Oliva Lincer.
Gayathri Krishnan and
Sophia Strugnell locked up the doubles point for the Lions with a 6-2 win against UCF's Olivia Bergler and Sophia Biolay in the No. 2 doubles.
Emily Baek and
Sophia Wang played the No. 3 doubles against UCF's Jade Psonka and Donatella Guarnieri. Psonka and Guarnieri held a 4-2 advantage when the match was abandoned due to Columbia clinching the doubles point.
UCF rebounded in singles play to come back and take the 4-2 team win. The Knights posted wins in the one, three, four and five singles.
Columbia first-year
Amber Yin secured the lone singles victory of the match for the Lions. Yin defeated Hannah Rylatt in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2 in the No. 6 position.
RESULTS
#23 UCF 4, Columbia 2
Singles
1. Aya El Aouni (UCF) def.
Fatima Keita (COL) 6-4, 6-1
2. Olivia Lincer (UCF) vs.
Malak El Allami (COL) 6-3, 5-7, unfinished
3. #85 Sophia Biolay (UCF) def.
Gayathri Krishnan (COL) 6-2, 6-0
4. Olivia Bergler (UCF) def.
Sophia Wang (COL) 6-2, 6-1
5. Jade Psonka (UCF) def.
Winta Tewolde (COL) 6-0, 6-4
6.
Amber Yin (COL) def. Hannah Rylatt (UCF) 6-1, 6-2
Doubles
1.
Fatima Keita/
Malak El Allami (COL) def. Aya El Aouni/Olivia Lincer (UCF) 6-2
2.
Gayathri Krishnan/
Sophia Strugnell (COL) def. Olivia Bergler/Sophia Biolay (UCF) 6-2
3. Jade Psonka/Donatella Guarnieri (UCF) vs.
Emily Baek/
Sophia Wang (COL) 4-2, unfinished
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (3,6,4,5,1)
UP NEXT
Columbia welcomes Maryland and Hofstra to the Philip and Cheryl Milstein Family Tennis Center for a Friday doubleheader on January 31. The Lions will play Maryland at 11 a.m. before wrapping up action with a 3 p.m. contest against Hofstra.
FOLLOWING THE LIONS
Stay up to date on all things Columbia Women's Tennis by following the Lions on Twitter (@CULionsWTEN), Instagram (@culionswten) and on Facebook (@ColumbiaAthletics).
