The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Cincinnati
No. 7 Women’s Tennis sweeps Cincinnati, 7-0
03.10.2024 | Women's Tennis
The Longhorns earned their second-straight 7-0 sweep in Big 12 play to move to 3-0 in the conference.
Austin – No. 7 Texas Women's Tennis (10-3, 3-0) claimed a 7-0 sweep over Cincinnati (5-6, 0-4) on Sunday afternoon at the Texas Tennis Center. It was the second-straight 7-0 sweep for the Longhorns in Big 12 play after downing West Virginia by that score on Friday.
After clinching the doubles point with wins at Nos. 1 and 2, Texas received singles victories from sophomore Vivian Ovrootsky at No. 5, seniors Charlotte Chavatipon at No. 3, No. 21 Malaika Rapolu at No. 1, and Taisiya Pachkaleva at No. 4, graduate No. 39 Tanya Sasnouskaya at No. 2, and freshman Shachf Lieberman at No. 6.
Vivian Ovrootsky earned Texas' first singles win of the match with an efficient 6-1, 6-0 win over Callie Flanagan on No. 5. Ovrootsky broke and held to open the first set, but Flanagan answered with a hold to make it 2-1. However, that was all she would get as Ovrootsky went on a 10-0 run, including two deuce-point wins in the second set to take the win.
Just minutes later, Chavatipon sealed a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Gabrielle Guenther on No. 3. Chavatipon opened the first set with a 4-0 run before Guenther managed a hold to get on the board and make it 4-1, but Chavatipon answered with a hold and a break to take the first set, 6-1. Chavatipon opened the second set on a 5-0 run that included a deuce-point break to make it 2-0. Guenther avoided the bagel with a hold to make it 5-1, but Chavatipon served for the match and capitalized on the ensuing game.
On No. 1, Rapolu clinched the victory for Texas with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Rozalia Gruszczyska. Rapolu earned a break, a deuce-point hold and another break to go up 3-0 in the first set before Gruszczyska earned a deuce-point break to make it 3-1. However, Rapolu went on a 3-0 run to close out the first set. After Rapolu held to open the second, Gruszczyska earned a deuce-point hold to tie things at 1-1. However, it was all Rapolu from there as she closed on a 5-0 run to clinch the team win over Cincinnati.
With the team victory clinched, the remaining matches played it out with Pachkaleva tallying another win for Texas with a 6-4, 6-0 decision over Sakurako Watanbe on No. 4 to give Texas a 5-0 overall lead. In the first set, four of the first six games went to deuce point, with Pachkaleva winning three of them to find herself up, 4-2. After Pachkaleva broke to go up 5-2, Watanbe took the next two games before Pachkaleva closed out the first set on serve. In the second set, Pachkaleva found her groove, winning six-straight games to clinch the victory.
On No. 2, Sasnouskaya earned a 6-1, 7-5 victory over Victoire de Samucewicz to give Texas their fifth singles victory. After both players earned deuce point holds to open the first set, Sasnouskaya went on a 5-0 run without having to go to deuce again to take the first set, 6-1. In the second set, after Sasnouskaya went up, 4-2, de Samucewicz went on a 3-0 run to take a 5-4 lead. De Samucewicz served for the set, but Sasnouskaya broke to knot it up, 5-5, and get momentum back. After holding to go up, 6-5, Sasnouskaya broke again for the win, 7-5, and put Texas ahead, 6-0.
On court No. 6, Shachf Lieberman completed the 7-0 sweep with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Isabel Pacheco. After Pacheco opened with a break and a hold, Lieberman held on a deuce point to make it 2-1. Pacheco later found herself up 4-2, but Lieberman stormed back by going on a 4-0 run and capturing the first set, 6-4. Lieberman once again found herself down in the second set after Pacheco earned a deuce-point hold for a 3-1 lead. But once again, Lieberman came roaring back and tied things at 3-3 before winning three consecutive deuce-point games to complete her 5-0 run and win the set 6-3.
Earlier in the match in doubles, Chavatipon and Ovrootsky cruised to a 6-0 victory over Victoire de Samucewicz and Callie Flanagan on No. 2. Cincinnati had a chance to hold on a deuce point down 2-0, but Texas broke to make it 3-0 and never looked back, taking the next three games without going to deuce.
Just a minute later on court 1, Rapolu and Sasnouskaya defeated Gruszczynska and Guenther to clinch the doubles point for Texas. After jumping out to a quick 2-0 lead, Texas held on a big deuce point to extend their lead to 3-0. Cincinnati answered with a hold for 3-1, but Texas cruised from there, winning the next three games and taking the match. The win gave the Horns a 1-0 lead before heading to singles play.
The doubles match between Pachkaleva and Lieberman and the Bearcats' Morgan Pryz and Watanbe was knotted at 3-3 when play was stopped. After a hold and a deuce-point break to go up 2-0, Cincinnati responded with a hold and break of their own to even things, 2-2. Texas held before Cincinnati held on a deuce-point to keep things square at 3-3.
The Longhorns will be back in action on the road on Friday, March 15, at 1 p.m. CT to take on Houston at the Barbara Wallace Winston Tennis Facility.
#7 Texas 7, Cincinnati 0
Singles – Order of Finish (5,3,1,4,2,6)
1. #21 Malaika Rapolu (TEXAS) def. Rozalia Gruszczynska (CIN) 6-1, 6-1
2. #39 Tanya Sasnouskaya (TEXAS) def. Vic deSamucewicz (CIN) 6-1, 7-5
3. Charlotte Chavatipon (TEXAS) def. Gabrielle Guenther (CIN) 6-1, 6-1
4. Taisiya Pachkaleva (TEXAS) def. Sakurako Watanabe (CIN) 6-4, 6-0
5. Vivian Ovrootsky (TEXAS) def. Callie Flanagan (CIN) 6-1, 6-0
6. Shachf Lieberman (TEXAS) def. Isabel Pacheco (CIN) 6-4, 6-3
Doubles – Order of Finish (2,1)
1. Malaika Rapolu/Tanya Sasnouskaya (TEXAS) def. Rozalia Gruszczynska/Gabrielle Guenther (CIN) 6-1
2. Charlotte Chavatipon/Vivian Ovrootsky (TEXAS) def. Vic deSamucewicz/Callie Flanagan (CIN) 6-0
3. Taisiya Pachkaleva/Shachf Lieberman (TEXAS) vs. Morgan Pyrz/Sakurako Watanabe (CIN) 3-3, unf.
Players Mentioned
