Women’s Tennis Drops Season Opener to Miami

Saturday, January 23

Boca Raton, Fla.

Noon

Florida Atlantic

Miami

2021 FAU Women’s Tennis Photo Day Natalia Boltinskaya

Photo by: JC Ridley/Owlpix.com

1/23/2021 5:14:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score

BOCA RATON, Fla. – On Saturday afternoon, the Florida Atlantic University women's team opened the 2021 season after more than a 10-month absence. The Owls saw several hotly contested matches, but it was fourth-year junior and team leader Natalia Boltinskaya who scored the first point of the 2021 season in a 6-1 loss to Miami at the FAU Tennis Complex.

One of the final Saturday matches to be determined was on court three, where fourth-year junior Natalie Kallmunzerova saw her 10-match win streak come to an end. Kallmunzerova fell to Maya Tahan, 6-7, 6-3, 1-0 (10-4).

Sophomore newcomer Katerina Filip saw her first action in an Owls' uniform. Filip also saw her match, on court four, go to a third set tiebreaker, ending with UM taking the match 4-6, 7-6, 1-0.

Wheelen's Wisdom

"I'm glad we hit the ground running, with such a tough match," said Caroline Wheelen, FAU's head coach. "It sets the bar high for my girls. There are adjustments we need to make with fitness, strategy and overall training. I'm impressed with newcomer Katerina Filip. She's going to make a great addition to the top of the lineup. So, we will sit down and make a new plan for the next two weeks and get ready for a rematch against Miami in April."

Match Results

Singles
No. 1 #2 E. Perez-Somarriba (UM) def. Martina Kudelova (FAU) 6-1, 6-0
No. 2 Natalia Boltinskaya (FAU) def. #102 Selma Cadar (UM) 6-2, 6-4
No. 3 Maya Tahan, (UM) def. Natalie Kallmunzerova (FAU) 6-7, 6-3, 1-0
No. 4 Urrutia Florencia (UM) def Katerina Filip (FAU) 4-6, 7-6, 1-0
No. 5 Isabella Pfenning (UM) def. Louie McLelland (FAU) 6-1, 6-1
No. 6. Diana Khodan (UM) def. Radka Buzkova (FAU) 6-2, 7-6

In a singles exhibition match, May Kimhi (FAU) fell to Dimauka (UM) 3-6, 6-1, 6-3

Order of finish: 1,5,2, 6,3,4

Doubles
No. 1 E. Perez-Somarriba/Florenica Urrutia (UM) def. May Kimhi/Martina Kudelova (FAU) 6-0
No. 2 Maya Tahan/Diana Khoden (UM) def. Natalia Boltinskaya/Louie McLelland (FAU) 6-2
No. 3 Isabella Pfennig/Selma Cadar (UM) def. Radka Buzkova/Katerina Filip (FAU) 6-1
Order of Finish 3,1,2

What's Next

FAU will travel to Las Vegas, Nevada to play three matches in three days, beginning Feb. 5. The Owls will first play against host UNLV, will then face UTSA, a C-USA member, and will close out the trip versus Youngstown State.