University of Texas Arlington
UCF
WTEN: UT Arlington opens season with 1-1 weekend
1/30/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Jan. 30, 2012
WACO, Texas - The 73rd-ranked UT Arlington women's tennis team split a pair of matches over the weekend at the prestigious ITA National Team Indoor Qualifier, falling 6-1 to No. 75 Wyoming on Saturday before beating UCF 5-2 on Sunday.
"Overall, it was a good weekend for us," head coach Diego Benitez said. "We learned some things from the loss to Wyoming the first day, so we were able to make a few changes and adjust a few tactics. As a result, we beat a very strong squad in UCF."
Against Wyoming, UTA was able to grab the doubles point when the Mavericks claimed wins at No. 1 and No. 3. The victory at No. 1 for Maria Martinez-Romero and Nikola Matovicova was especially impressive, as the duo routed the nation's 44th-ranked doubles team by an 8-2 final.
Despite several close scores in singles play, the Mavs were unable to take a set from the Cowgirls in dropping all six matches.
The following day, UTA began the same way, taking the doubles point against the 78th-ranked Knights. This time the victories came via the top two lines.
Martinez-Romero, half of the No. 1 doubles team, also picked up a singles win in the top spot, with a straight-sets 6-4, 6-3 decision.
Natalia Mayuk was also a two-event winner, as she bounced back from an opening-set loss to post a hard-fought 3-6, 6-2, 7-5 triumph. Earlier, she teamed with Giada D'ortona to win 8-4 at No. 2 doubles.
A pair of freshmen capped the victory for the Mavericks, as Verena Scott cruised to a 6-1, 6-1 win at No. 5, and Christine Foote officially clinched the match with a come-from-behind 3-6, 7-5, 6-1 victory at No. 6.
"I was very proud of our two freshmen," Benitez said. "Verena Scott played an impeccable match and Christine Foote came back from a set down all the way to force a third set, and ultimately clinching the win for us. That is huge effort for a freshman."
UTA is next in action this weekend with a pair of home matches. The Mavs will host Oklahoma Central at 3 p.m. Saturday and Central Arkansas at 10 a.m. Sunday. Both matches will be played at the UTA Tennis Center.
#75 Wyoming 6, #73 UT Arlington 1
Doubles
1. Martinez-Romero/Matovicova (UTA) def. #44 Popovici/Synkova (WYO) 8-2
2. D'ortona/Mayuk (UTA) leading Kovacs/Nemcova (WYO), 8-7 DNF
3. Scott/Foote (UTA) def. Parizher/Zhelyazkova (WYO) 9-8
Singles
1. Veronica Popovici (WYO) def. Maria Martinez-Romero (UTA) 6-4, 6-3
2. Simona Synkova (WYO) def. Natalia Mayuk (UTA) 7-5, 6-0
3. Sasa Nemcoa (WYO) def. Giada D'ortona (UTA) 6-2, 6-2
4. Silviya Zhelyazkova (WYO) def. Nikola Matovicova (UTA) 6-3, 6-4
5. Jessica Parizher (WYO) def. Christine Foote (UTA) 6-2, 7-6 (8-6)
6. Alexandra Kovacs (WYO) def. Verena Scott (UTA) 6-4, 6-4
#73 UT Arlington 5, #78 UCF 2
Doubles
1. Matovicova/Martinez-Romero (UTA) def. Lorbergs/ Rodriguez (UCF) 8-4
2. D'ortona/Mayuk (UTA) def. Doerfler/Griffith (UCF) 8-4
3. Scott/Foote (UTA) vs. Dubins/Yacaman (UCF) 4-7, DNF
Singles
1. Maria MartinezRomero (UTA) def. Genevieve Lorbergs (UCF) 6-4, 6-3
2. Alexis Rodriguez (UCF) def. Giada D'ortona (UTA) 6-1, 6-2
3. Natalia Mayuk (UTA) def. Jenna Doerfler (UCF) 3-6, 6-2, 7-5
4. Taylor Dubins (UCF) def. Nikola Matovicova (UTA) 6-3, 6-0
5. Verena Scott (UTA) def. Josephine Haraldson (UCF) 6-1, 6-1
6. Christine Foote (UTA) def. Allison Hodges (UCF) 3-6, 7-5, 6-1
