UIC Wins 15th Straight Horizon League Women's Tennis Crown

INDIANAPOLIS -- 133 consecutive times, a Horizon League opponent has attempted to knock off the UIC women's tennis team.  On Saturday, Cleveland State gave the Flames a run for their money, but UIC took care of business, capturing its 15th straight Horizon League women's tennis title, 4-1, at the North Central High School tennis courts.

The victory gives UIC the automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.

Head Coach Shannon Tully improved to 100-0 in matches against League opponents, while Mariya Kovaleva continued her unbeaten run over three years of Horizon League play.  Cleveland State, advancing to the League final for the first time, put up a fierce fight, threatening to push the match to its limit before Kovaleva provided the clinching points.

The Flames jumped out from the start, with Kovaleva and Elisa Simonetti putting UIC on the board with an 8-5 triumph at No. 1 doubles.  Teona Tsertsvadze and Ilinca Cristescu followed soon after with an 8-6 decision at No. 2, giving the Flames a 1-0 lead heading into singles play.

Needing just three wins to pick up its 15th straight title, Linda Hricistova got the ball rolling for UIC at No. 6, rolling 6-1, 6-3.  After Simonetti made it 3-0 with a  6-3, 6-4 triumph at No. 4, Cleveland State notched a tally at No. 2 when Alex Bush captured a straight set 6-1, 6-2 win at No. 2.

The Vikings pushed matches at No. 3 and No. 5 into the third set, but Kovaleva provided the capper, picking up three breaks in the second set to down Catrine Bjerrehus, 7-5, 6-2.

In the third place match, No. 5 Detroit knocked off third-seeded Butler, 4-2.

(1) UIC 4, (2) Cleveland State 1
Horizon League Women’s Tennis Championship | Indianapolis (North Central H.S.)
Doubles:
No. 1 – Mariya Kovaleva/Elisa Simonetti (UIC) def. Alex Bush/Alex Power (CSU) 8-5
No. 2 – Teona Tsertsvadze/Ilinca Cristescu (UIC) def. Catrine Bjerrehus/Maria Lazaris (CSU) 8-6
No. 3 – Kara Sherwood/Mengdi Liu (CSU) vs. Jana Knoppe/Linda Hricistova (CSU) 8-7 DNF
    Order of finish: 1-2

Singles:
No. 1 – Mariya Kovaleva (UIC) def. Catrine Bjerrehus (CSU) 7-5, 6-2
No. 2 – Alex Bush (CSU) def. Teona Tsertsvadze (UIC) 6-1, 6-2
No. 3 – Ilinca Cristescu (UIC) vs. Kara Sherwood (CSU) 6-1, 3-6, 1-3 DNF
No. 4 – Elisa Simonetti (UIC) def. Maria Lazaris (CSU) 6-3, 6-4
No. 5 – Jana Knoppe (UIC) vs. Alex Power (CSU) 6-3, 0-6, 3-0 DNF
No. 6 – Linda Hricistova (UIC) def. Mengdi Liu (CSU) 6-1, 6-3
    Order of finish: 6-4-2-1

(5) Detroit 4, (3) Butler 2
Horizon League Women's Tennis Third Place Match | Indianapolis (North Central H.S.)
Doubles:
No. 1 – Amanda Cornwell/Carolina Salas (DET) def. Angelina Qin/Gabrielle Rubenstein (BU) 9-8 (10-8)
No. 2 – Gabriella Bobrowski/Ashley Breitenbach (BU) def. Raina Halabi/Elena Strakhova (DET) 8-3
No. 3 – Erin Weldon/Julia Fernandes (DET) def. Kahfi King/Kate Panawash (BU) 8-4
   Order of finish: 2-3-1

Singles:
No. 1 – Natali Jaimes (BU) def. Amanda Cornwell (DET) 6-3, 6-0
No. 2 – Carolina Salas (DET) def. Stephanie McLoughlin (BU) 6-2, 6-2
No. 3 – Brittany Farmer (BU) def. Elena Strakhova (DET) 7-5, 6-2
No. 4 – Julia Fernandes (DET) def. Cam Thompson (BU) 6-4, 2-6, 10-4
No. 5 – Raina Halabi (DET) def. Angelina Qin (BU) 7-5, 6-1
No. 6 – Laura Shull (BU) vs. Erin Weldon (DET) 6-4, 3-4 DNF
    Order of finish: 1-2-5-3-4