FAU Women swept back-to-back weekend opponents for fourth straight victory
The Owls beat Georgia State Panthers 5-2 and Depaul Blue Demons 4-0 to win four consecutive matches.
FAU junior Lexi Silna. (Photo/Gasner Delvarin Jr.)
Gasner Delvarin Jr.
February 5, 2024
BOCA RATON, Fla. - Florida Athletic Owls (4-1) swept another weekend of tennis by winning over Georgia State Panthers with a score of 5-2 on Saturday and defeating DePaul Blue Demons 4-0 for their fourth straight victory Sunday morning at the Kimberly V. Strauss Tennis Center.
Saturday:
The Owls highlighted a strong performance in both doubles and singles. Despite initially trailing 1-0 after the doubles match, the Owls rallied with impressive singles victories.
In doubles, the Panthers defeated the Owls in close battles, with their pairs Luciana Galvez and Sara Radojevic defeating Carla Glamiche and Amber McGinnis of FAU 7-6 (7-4) on court 3.
On court 1, the Owls duo of Victoria Gomez O'Hayon and Millie-Mae Matthews held their own with a win 7-5, defeating Retortillo Soiras and Andreea Stanescu. But, on court 2, Panna Bartha and Lexi Silna of FAU couldn't overcome their opponents and suffered a 7-6 (10-8) loss, granting Georgia State a 1-nil advantage on the scoreboard.
In singles, the Owls quickly responded to straight-set wins with Bartha on court #1, who swiftly took down Soiras 6-2, 6-0, followed by Matthews defeating Sveva Bernardi of the Panthers 6-1, 6-2 on court #5 to give FAU a 2-1 lead.
Georgia State ressurged with Francesca Miglio on court #3 to beat Galmiche 6-4, 7-5.
However, the Owls would take the lead at 3-2 with McGinnis winning her match 6-2, 7-5, and O'Hayon, who claimed a crucial victory 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 over Stanescu, setting up Silna after a hard-fought three-set match to deliver the Owls with her win on court #4 over Radojevic 7-5, 1-6, 6-1 for a final score of 5-2 over Georgia State.
Sunday:
After FAU's victory against Georgia State on Saturday, the Owls picked up where they left off to defeat the DePaul Blue Demons 4-0 on Sunday morning with little rest at Kimberly V. Strauss Tennis Center.
Due to anticipated adverse weather conditions later in the day, the game was rescheduled from 1 p.m. to 8 a.m., given the Lady Owls only 12 hours before the first serve from their last games.
The players skipped doubles and started with singles in the format play to clinch. The Owls took command and putting identical work started with O'Hayon, who defeated Sasha Stula 6-1, 6-2 on court #2, followed by Silna on court #4, who won against Yuliya Kizelbasheva 6-1, 6-2, and Galmiche beat Eleanor Nobbs 6-1, 6-2 on court #3.
The Owl Bartha met with resistance on court #1 against Hannah Smith of the Blue Demons but powered through to claim victory 6-2, 7-6 (7-1).
With FAU the first to four, the final two matches with Matthews on court #5, leading against Hannah Smith 7-6 (7-4), 1-2, and McGinnis on court #6 down a set versus Emily Casati 0-6, 5-4, came to a close and unfinished for a final score of 4-0 over DePaul.
The Owls will head to USF for their first match in the AAC this season on February 9 at noon.