The Bulls defeated #48 Rice in a thriller
March 31, 2023
Box Score Match Details
South Florida 4, Rice 3
USF (11-5), Rice (9-6)
Friday, March 31, 2023 | 1:00 p.m.
Houston, Tx. | George R. Brown Tennis Center
Tampa, Fla. (March 31, 2023) – No. 64 USF Women’s Tennis posted their seventh consecutive win, an exciting 4-3 come from behind victory over No. 48 Rice in Houston. In the process, the Bulls ended Rice’s four match winning streak.
The Bulls needed a strong comeback, and the match came down to a three-set win by Grace Schumacher in the final match of the day to seal the victory.
The Bulls started the day by earning a point with a sweep in doubles.
On court one, Sierra Berry, and Grace Schumacher recorded an impressive 6-3 win, their fourth straight, to secure the doubles’ point for the Bulls. The duo improved their doubles record to 6-2 on the season.
On court three, Marta Falceto Font and Nadja Bay Christians got the Bulls off to a hot start, taking their match 6-3. They have now won two straight doubles matches together.
In singles play, two-time AAC Player of the Week Sierra Berry gave the Bulls their first win 6-4, 6-3 and an early 2-1 lead in the match. Berry improves 13-2 in singles on the season.
The lead evaporated as Rice won the next two matches, placing the Bulls in a 3-1 deficit with two matches undecided.
The Bulls inched closer as Laura Pellicer came through with a hard-fought win. Pellicer took the first set 7-6 in an 8-6 tiebreaker and won the second set 6-4 to earn her fourth consecutive singles victory. Pellicer improved her singles record to 8-7 on the season.
It all came down to the final singles match on the courts. Grace Schumacher dropped the first set 3-6, then bounced back with a 7-6 win in a 7-3 tiebreaker to extend the match. Schumacher made quick work of the third set, 6-1, to seal the victory for the Bulls.
The win marked the Bulls’ seventh straight win, improving their season record to 11-5.
Up Next
USF returns to action April 1 as they face #36 Florida International in Houston at 12 p.m.
Doubles competition
1. Sierra Berry/Grace Schumacher (USF) def. Diae El Jardi/Allison Zipoli (RICE) 6-3
2. Maria Budin/Federica Trevisan (RICE) vs. Laura Pellicer/Ireland Simme (USF) 4-3, unfinished
3. Nadja Bay Christians/Marta Falceto Font (USF) def. Saara Orav/Darya Schwartzman (RICE) 6-3
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1)
Singles competition
1. Sierra Berry (USF) def. Allison Zipoli (RICE) 6-4, 6-3
2. Grace Schumacher (USF) def. Federica Trevisan (RICE) 3-6, 7-6, 6-1
3. Laura Pellicer (USF) def. Diae El Jardi (RICE) 7-6, 6-4
4. Darya Schwartzman (RICE) def. Marta Falceto Font (USF) 7-6, 6-3
5. Maria Budin (RICE) def. Ireland Simme (USF) 6-3, 6-3
6. Saara Orav (RICE) def. Cliona Walsh (USF) 6-4, 6-4
Order of finish: Singles (5,1,4,6,3,2)
About Women’s Tennis
Be sure to follow USF women’s tennis on social media (Twitter / Facebook / Instagram) and visit GoUSFBulls.com for the most up-to-date information. Head coach Cristina Moros is in her eighth year at the helm, as she led the program to an American Athletic Conference Championship in 2017.
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