Cardinals Beat Rival Bearcats

Sunday, January 27

LOUISVILLE, KY

3:00 p.m.

University of Louisville

CINCINNATI

January 27, 2019 | Women's Tennis

Box Score Photo Gallery

Louisville wins 5-2

By: Nancy Worley

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The University of Louisville women's tennis team topped Cincinnati 5-2 on Sunday afternoon at the Bass-Rudd Tennis Center to remain undefeated in dual match action. With the victory, the Cardinals improve to 5-0, while the Bearcats drop to 1-2.

"I'm really happy with this. We didn't play as well as we could, but part of that was because of Cincinnati," said UofL head coach Mark Beckham. "We did have a couple nicks here and there, but once again, I'm not in the excuse making business. The thing that I really liked was that we still found ways to win. For me, it was a really good win because Cincinnati battles."

The Bearcats gained the initial advantage in doubles as Antonella Bramato and Alexia Coutino defeated Sena Suswam and Raven Neely 6-4 at No. 1. Despite a hard-fought effort on court three, Dina Chaika and Diana Wong fell to Emma Miceli and Caroline Morton by a mark of 6-4, allowing Cincinnati to secure an early 1-0 lead.

In other doubles action, the Cardinals' Nikolina Jovic and Chloe Hamlin downed Ioana Guna and Anna Philip 6-4 at No. 2.

Louisville countered in singles as Neely knotted the score at 1-1 with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Caroline Morton on court three. Suswam then gave the Cardinals a 2-1 lead, topping Guna 6-3, 6-2 at No. 2.

The Cardinals continued to roll, picking up another victory on court four as Jovic triumphed over Coutino 6-2, 6-3 to extend the lead to 3-1. However, the Bearcats responded with a win of their own at the five-spot as Maria Santili beat Hamlin 7-5, 6-1.

With the match coming down to courts one and six, Wong outlasted Cincinnati's Miceli 6-0, 4-6, 6-4 at No. 6 to move the score to 4-2 and clinch the victory for the Cardinals.

Mally also won a tightly contested battle on court one, prevailing over Bramato 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 to seal the 5-2 win over the Bearcats.

Up next, the Cardinals will head south to play Charleston Southern on Saturday at 12 p.m.

Tennis Match Results
Cincinnati vs Louisville
1/27/2019 at Louisville, Ky.
(Bass-Russ Tennis Center)

Louisville 5, Cincinnati 2

Singles competition
1. Aleksandra Mally (LOU) def. Antonella Bramato (CIN) 6-3, 3-6, 6-2
2. Sena Suswam (LOU) def. Ioana Guna (CIN) 6-3, 6-2
3. Raven Neely (LOU) def. Caroline Morton (CIN) 6-3, 6-1
4. Nikolina Jovic (LOU) def. Alexia Coutino (CIN) 6-2, 6-3
5. Maria Santilli (CIN) def. Chloe Hamlin (LOU) 7-5, 6-1
6. Diana Wong (LOU) def. Emma Miceli (CIN) 6-0, 4-6, 6-4

Doubles competition
1. Antonella Bramato/Alexia Coutino (CIN) def. Sena Suswam/Raven Neely (LOU) 6-4
2. Nikolina Jovic/Chloe Hamlin (LOU) def. Ioana Guna/Anna Philp (CIN) 6-4
3. Emma Miceli/Caroline Morton (CIN) def. Dina Chaika/Diana Wong (LOU) 6-4

Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (3,2,4,5,6,1)