Troy University Athletics
Friday, April 22
Peachtree City, Ga.
1 p.m.
Troy University
2
vs
4
UT Arlington
Women's Tennis Falls Short of UTA Upset in Quarterfinal Round
4/22/2022 5:57:00 PM | Tennis (W)
PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. - The Troy women's tennis team comes up just short of a major upset in the Sun Belt quarterfinal round to No. 3-seed UT-Arlington with a final score of 4-2 at the Peachtree City Tennis Center on Friday afternoon.
Despite taking the early lead in doubles, the Trojans (10-13, 4-6 SBC) conclude the season with their second straight quarterfinals appearance, while the Mavericks (22-2, 9-1 SBC) advance to their third consecutive semifinals.
Fought Till the End
The Trojans' greatest strength in the first round turned into their downfall in the quarterfinals, falling in two straight singles matches to start.
UTA took the advantage with wins on courts six and three. Franziska Ahrend was the first to fall, losing to Ana Paula Jimenez in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2. Then, senior Michelle Ncube dropped, getting blanked in the first set 6-0. Ncube battled tough in the second set before losing 6-4.
Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year Hagar Amin kept Troy alive on court four, winning the team's first singles set, 6-4. Then, after getting swept in the second set, 6-0, the freshman dominated in the extra set for the 6-2 win, bringing the score to 3-2.
Anastasiia Khokhlova and Kristina Kukaras were left in play at match point. Kukaras won her second set over all-conference singles first team Liz Chileno, 6-4, after falling in the first, 6-3. The score was 4-3 in the extra set before Khokhlova fell on court two. The senior battled until the final point in both sets, ultimately losing 7-5, 7-5, ending Troy's season.
Early Upset Alert
Troy stole the first point of the match in doubles competition against a UTA team that entered the day at 33-17 overall in doubles.
After Ncube / Amin fell for the first time in doubles competition as a duo, 6-3, Kukaras / Chiara Desia Dabarno and Khokhlova / Andrea Widing mounted the comeback.
Kukaras / Dabarno dominated early against the Mavericks, allowing a brief comeback late in the set before finishing with the victory, 6-4.
Khokhlova / Widing had the early lead on court one, extending their lead to 5-1. Momoka Horiguchi / Tara Gorinsek fought back for UTA, tying the match 5-5. However, the Trojan duo wouldn't be denied, winning the point for Troy, 1-0, after taking the final two points, 7-5.
Match Results
Doubles Competition:
1. Anastasiia Khokhlova/Andrea Widing (TROY) def. Horiguchi, Momoka/Gorinsek, Tara (UTA) 7-5
2. Chileno, Liz/Paula Jimenez, Ana (UTA) def. Hagar Amin/Michelle Ncube (TROY) 6-3
3. Kristina Kukaras/Chiara Desia Dabarno (TROY) def. Reinertsen, Sarina/Pons, Carla (UTA) 6-4
Order of finish (2, 3, 1)
Singles Competition:
1. Chileno, Liz (UTA) vs. Kristina Kukaras (TROY) 6-3, 4-6, 3-4, unfinished
2. Horiguchi, Momoka (UTA) def. Anastasiia Khokhlova (TROY) 7-5, 7-5
3. Pons, Carla (UTA) def. Michelle Ncube (TROY) 6-0, 6-4
4. Hagar Amin (TROY) def. Gorinsek, Tara (UTA) 6-4, 0-6, 6-2
5. Reinertsen, Sarina (UTA) def. Olivia Elliott (TROY) 6-1, 6-3
6. Paula Jimenez, Ana (UTA) def. Franziska Ahrend (TROY) 6-1, 6-2
Order of finish (6, 3, 4, 5, 2)
Despite taking the early lead in doubles, the Trojans (10-13, 4-6 SBC) conclude the season with their second straight quarterfinals appearance, while the Mavericks (22-2, 9-1 SBC) advance to their third consecutive semifinals.
Fought Till the End
The Trojans' greatest strength in the first round turned into their downfall in the quarterfinals, falling in two straight singles matches to start.
UTA took the advantage with wins on courts six and three. Franziska Ahrend was the first to fall, losing to Ana Paula Jimenez in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2. Then, senior Michelle Ncube dropped, getting blanked in the first set 6-0. Ncube battled tough in the second set before losing 6-4.
Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year Hagar Amin kept Troy alive on court four, winning the team's first singles set, 6-4. Then, after getting swept in the second set, 6-0, the freshman dominated in the extra set for the 6-2 win, bringing the score to 3-2.
Anastasiia Khokhlova and Kristina Kukaras were left in play at match point. Kukaras won her second set over all-conference singles first team Liz Chileno, 6-4, after falling in the first, 6-3. The score was 4-3 in the extra set before Khokhlova fell on court two. The senior battled until the final point in both sets, ultimately losing 7-5, 7-5, ending Troy's season.
Early Upset Alert
Troy stole the first point of the match in doubles competition against a UTA team that entered the day at 33-17 overall in doubles.
After Ncube / Amin fell for the first time in doubles competition as a duo, 6-3, Kukaras / Chiara Desia Dabarno and Khokhlova / Andrea Widing mounted the comeback.
Kukaras / Dabarno dominated early against the Mavericks, allowing a brief comeback late in the set before finishing with the victory, 6-4.
Khokhlova / Widing had the early lead on court one, extending their lead to 5-1. Momoka Horiguchi / Tara Gorinsek fought back for UTA, tying the match 5-5. However, the Trojan duo wouldn't be denied, winning the point for Troy, 1-0, after taking the final two points, 7-5.
Match Results
Doubles Competition:
1. Anastasiia Khokhlova/Andrea Widing (TROY) def. Horiguchi, Momoka/Gorinsek, Tara (UTA) 7-5
2. Chileno, Liz/Paula Jimenez, Ana (UTA) def. Hagar Amin/Michelle Ncube (TROY) 6-3
3. Kristina Kukaras/Chiara Desia Dabarno (TROY) def. Reinertsen, Sarina/Pons, Carla (UTA) 6-4
Order of finish (2, 3, 1)
Singles Competition:
1. Chileno, Liz (UTA) vs. Kristina Kukaras (TROY) 6-3, 4-6, 3-4, unfinished
2. Horiguchi, Momoka (UTA) def. Anastasiia Khokhlova (TROY) 7-5, 7-5
3. Pons, Carla (UTA) def. Michelle Ncube (TROY) 6-0, 6-4
4. Hagar Amin (TROY) def. Gorinsek, Tara (UTA) 6-4, 0-6, 6-2
5. Reinertsen, Sarina (UTA) def. Olivia Elliott (TROY) 6-1, 6-3
6. Paula Jimenez, Ana (UTA) def. Franziska Ahrend (TROY) 6-1, 6-2
Order of finish (6, 3, 4, 5, 2)
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
2,3,1
#1 Singles Match
1234
3640
Chileno, Liz / 0 [UTA]
643UF
#2 Singles Match
12
55
Horiguchi, Momoka / 0 [UTA]
77
#3 Singles Match
12
04
Pons, Carla / 0 [UTA]
66
#4 Singles Match
123
606
Gorinsek, Tara / 0 [UTA]
462
#5 Singles Match
12
13
Reinertsen, Sarina / 0 [UTA]
66
#6 Singles Match
12
12
Paula Jimenez, Ana / 0 [UTA]
66
Order of Finish:
6,3,4,5,2
Players Mentioned
/ Tennis (W)
/ Tennis (W)
/ Tennis (W)
/ Tennis (W)
/ Tennis (W)
/ Tennis (W)
/ Tennis (W)
/ Tennis (W)
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