The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Florida International
Women's Tennis holds off Florida International, 5-2
02.27.2009 | Women's Tennis
Feb. 27, 2009
AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas (3-4) captured the doubles point and withstood a strong early singles effort from Florida International to post a 5-2 victory over the visiting Panthers Friday afternoon at UT's Penick-Allison Tennis Center.
The match opened with a tight doubles session that ultimately went in the Longhorns' favor. UT senior Marija Milic and junior Stephanie Davison teamed up at first singles for an 8-2 win over FIU's Mariana Muci and Maria Pazo. The Panthers responded with a win at second doubles, leaving the outcome of the doubles session to be decided at the third position. Sophomores Amanda Craddock and Caroline Larsson went to a tiebreaker with FIU's Maria Spenceley and Priscilla Castillo, and the Texas duo prevailed, 9-8 (3) to nail down the doubles point for the Longhorns.
Florida International responded quickly with straight-set victories at the first and fifth positions to take a 2-1 lead. Craddock pulled out a first-set tiebreaker against FIU's Maria Vallasciani at sixth singles and cruised to a 6-1 second-set win to even the match at two points apiece.
Larsson outlasted FIU's Muci in the first set at second singles, 7-5, and took the following set, 6-2 to stake Texas to a 3-2 lead. Lancaster took the first set off of FIU's Spenceley at fourth singles, though Spenceley seized the second set to force a third. Lancaster took over from there and blanked Spenceley in the final set, 6-0, to produce the clinching point for the Longhorns.
On court three, UT sophomore Maggie Mello engaged in a lengthy three-set battle with Castillo and pulled out a victory, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4.
Texas wraps up its weekend on Sunday, March 1 when it hosts South Florida at noon.
Texas 5, Florida International 2
Doubles - Order of Finish: 1, 2, 3
1 Davison/Milic (UT) def. Muci/Pazo (FIU) - 8-2
2 Brito/Vallasciani (FIU) def. Damico/Mello (UT) - 8-5
3 Craddock/Larsson (UT) def. Spenceley/Castillo (FIU) - 9-8 (3)
Singles - Order of Finish: 1, 5, 6, 2, 4, 3
1 Liset Brito (FIU) def. Krista Damico (UT) - 6-2, 6-3
2 Caroline Larsson (UT) def. Mariana Muci (FIU) - 7-5, 6-2
3 Maggie Mello (UT) def. Priscilla Castillo (FIU) - 7-5, 4-6, 6-4
4 Sarah Lancaster (UT) def. Maria Spenceley (FIU) - 7-5, 1-6, 6-0
5 Maria Pazo (FIU) def. Stephanie Davison (UT) - 6-0, 6-2
6 Amanda Craddock (UT) def. Maria Vallasciani (FIU) - 7-6 (3), 6-1
