Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Saturday, April 20
Houston, Texas
Florida Atlantic
2
vs
4
Rice
Women’s Tennis Falls in C-USA Semifinals
4/20/2019 6:59:00 PM | Women's Tennis
The Florida Atlantic University women's tennis team fell to Conference USA Championship host Rice, 4-2, in the tournament semifinals on Saturday. The Owls posted a 10-8 record on the season and advanced to the C-USA semifinals for just the second time since joining the league in 2014.
Rice got on the board first, winning the doubles point with 6-1 victories at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles. Freshman Martina Kudelova, ranked #86 nationally, was the first FAU player to record a point with a 6-2, 6-4 win on court No. 1. Sophomore Natalie Kallmunzerova would record FAU's second point pulling the Owls to within one of Rice, 3-2.
All attention was then directed to courts five and six where Kristen Thoms, who clinched a team-high four matches in 2019, and freshman Barbora Palcatova, were battling with Rice. With Palcatova locked into a second-set tiebreaker on court six, Thoms could not hold on to her serve falling 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 and halting Palcatova's match.
FAU will return six of the seven roster members next season as they bid farewell to senior Thoms, FAU's lone upperclassman. FAU women's tennis can be followed via Facebook and twitter at @FAUwtennis.
Doubles Results
1. #53 Michaela Haet/Linda Huang (RICE) vs. Natalia Boltinskaya/Kristen Thoms (FAU) 2-3, unfinished
2. #72 Priya Niezgoda/Anastasia Smirnova (RICE) def. May Kimhi/Martina Kudelova (FAU) 6-1
3. Victoria Smirnova/Anna Bowtell (RICE) def. Natalie Kallmunzerova/Barbora Palcatova (FAU) 6-1
Singles Results
1. #86 Martina Kudelova (FAU) def. #70 Michaela Haet (RICE) 6-2, 6-4
2. Victoria Smirnova (RICE) def. Natalia Boltinskaya (FAU) 6-3, 6-1
3. Natalie Kallmunzerova (FAU) def. Anastasia Smirnova (RICE) 6-3, 6-3
4. Priya Niezgoda (RICE) def. May Kimhi (FAU) 6-2, 6-3
5. Anna Bowtell (RICE) def. Kristen Thoms (FAU) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
6. Diae El Jardi (RICE) vs. Barbora Palcatova (FAU) 6-4, 6-6, unfinished
Order of Finish
Doubles 2, 3
Singles: 2, 1, 4, 3, 5
Rice got on the board first, winning the doubles point with 6-1 victories at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles. Freshman Martina Kudelova, ranked #86 nationally, was the first FAU player to record a point with a 6-2, 6-4 win on court No. 1. Sophomore Natalie Kallmunzerova would record FAU's second point pulling the Owls to within one of Rice, 3-2.
All attention was then directed to courts five and six where Kristen Thoms, who clinched a team-high four matches in 2019, and freshman Barbora Palcatova, were battling with Rice. With Palcatova locked into a second-set tiebreaker on court six, Thoms could not hold on to her serve falling 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 and halting Palcatova's match.
FAU will return six of the seven roster members next season as they bid farewell to senior Thoms, FAU's lone upperclassman. FAU women's tennis can be followed via Facebook and twitter at @FAUwtennis.
Doubles Results
1. #53 Michaela Haet/Linda Huang (RICE) vs. Natalia Boltinskaya/Kristen Thoms (FAU) 2-3, unfinished
2. #72 Priya Niezgoda/Anastasia Smirnova (RICE) def. May Kimhi/Martina Kudelova (FAU) 6-1
3. Victoria Smirnova/Anna Bowtell (RICE) def. Natalie Kallmunzerova/Barbora Palcatova (FAU) 6-1
Singles Results
1. #86 Martina Kudelova (FAU) def. #70 Michaela Haet (RICE) 6-2, 6-4
2. Victoria Smirnova (RICE) def. Natalia Boltinskaya (FAU) 6-3, 6-1
3. Natalie Kallmunzerova (FAU) def. Anastasia Smirnova (RICE) 6-3, 6-3
4. Priya Niezgoda (RICE) def. May Kimhi (FAU) 6-2, 6-3
5. Anna Bowtell (RICE) def. Kristen Thoms (FAU) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
6. Diae El Jardi (RICE) vs. Barbora Palcatova (FAU) 6-4, 6-6, unfinished
Order of Finish
Doubles 2, 3
Singles: 2, 1, 4, 3, 5
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
2,3
#1 Singles Match
12
66
Michaela Haet / 0 (70/-) [RICE]
24
#2 Singles Match
12
31
Victoria Smirnova / 0 [RICE]
66
#3 Singles Match
12
66
Anastasia Smirnova / 0 [RICE]
33
#4 Singles Match
12
23
Priya Niezgoda / 0 [RICE]
66
#5 Singles Match
123
623
Anna Bowtell / 0 [RICE]
466
#6 Singles Match
123
460
Diae El Jardi / 0 [RICE]
66UF
Order of Finish:
2,1,4,3,5
Tuesday, May 12
Tuesday, May 05
Thursday, April 23
Wednesday, April 08