Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Thursday, March 7
Boca Raton, Fla.
10 a.m.
Florida Atlantic
4
vs
3
Pennsylvania
Owls Tie Record with Comeback Win
3/8/2024 1:56:00 PM | Women's Tennis
BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic women's tennis team, who broke into the national poll this week at No. 63, defeated Pennsylvania 4-3 on Friday afternoon to improve to 11-1 on the year and extended the Owls winning streak to 11, matching a winning streak set in 2001-02.
To say it was a match of determination is an understatement. The match was originally scheduled for 10 a.m. on Thursday. Due to rain, it was moved to 12:15 p.m. and after an hour and 35 minutes of play, the match was suspended once more because of rain.
The match resumed at 11 a.m. on Friday morning with the Owls, who won the doubles point and were up 1-0, fighting on every singles court and were either tied or trailing in five of their six matches.
UPenn tied the match at 1-1 with a win on court #3, but junior Millie-Mae Matthews captured court #5 at 6-3, 6-2 to give her Owls a 2-1 lead. Victoria Gomez O'Hayon came from behind on court #2, 0-6 6-2, 6-4, putting FAU up 3-2 with two courts still in play. The Quakers captured courts #6 and #4 to even the score at 3-3.
Both teams and all eyes then turn to court #1, the match decider. Freshman Panna Bartha had left the courts on Thursday down 4-6, 2-1 and not only her perfect 10-0 overall record but the team's 10-match winning streak on the line. Bartha captured the second set and was tied at 4-4 in the third before breaking UPenn's serve for the opportunity to serve out for the win. She would capitalize by winning the match's final game, clinching the victory for the Owls.
As a note: Just one Owl, Lexi Silna, had been born when the Owls last enjoyed an 11-match winning streak.
"This is just an impressive team performance. This group of girls are very special and they are very tough to beat.
Today, our girls were tested in every spot and were ready to battle. Yesterday, we played one of the best doubles points this year. #1s and #3s played some great tennis to win their matches.
In singles, we started slow and didn't do a good job executing early on, but our girls hung in there and kept fighting until the end. Kudos to Mille (Millie-Mae Matthews) for taking care of business and getting off the court first. This always helps build some momentum. Victoria (Gomez O'Hayon) and Panna (Bartha) showed some toughness when it mattered and even though they both lost the first set, they stayed positive and composed. They both showed a lot of heart and grit to get wins for the team.
We need to continue to work and clean up a few things in our games. Our team is hungry for more."
DATE: 03/07/2024 TIME: 10:00 AM ARENA: Kimberly V. Strauss Tennis Center SITE: Boca Raton, Fla.
Doubles
#1 Gomez O'Hayon, Victoria / Matthews, Millie-Mae [FAU] def. Gavriella Smith / Esha Velaga [PENN] 6-0
#2 Galmiche, Carla / Silna, Lexi [FAU] vs Sabine Rutlauka / Eileen Wang [PENN] 3-3 UF
#3 Bartha, Panna / McGinnis, Amber [FAU] 6-0
Order of Finish: 3, 1
Singles
#1 Bartha, Panna [FAU] def. Esha Velaga [PENN] 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
#2 Gomez O'Hayon, Victoria [FAU] def. Eileen Wang [PENN] 0-6, 6-2, 6-3
#3 Gavriella Smith [PENN] def. Galmiche, Carla [FAU] 7-5, 6-0
#4 Liza Tkachenko [PENN] def. Silna, Lexi [FAU] 7-5, 6-4
#5 Matthews, Millie-Mae [FAU] def. Saige Roshkoff [PENN] 6-3, 6-2
#6 Maya Urata [PENN] def. McGinnis [FAU] 6-3, 6-2
Order of Finish: 3, 5, 2, 6, 4, 1
To say it was a match of determination is an understatement. The match was originally scheduled for 10 a.m. on Thursday. Due to rain, it was moved to 12:15 p.m. and after an hour and 35 minutes of play, the match was suspended once more because of rain.
The match resumed at 11 a.m. on Friday morning with the Owls, who won the doubles point and were up 1-0, fighting on every singles court and were either tied or trailing in five of their six matches.
UPenn tied the match at 1-1 with a win on court #3, but junior Millie-Mae Matthews captured court #5 at 6-3, 6-2 to give her Owls a 2-1 lead. Victoria Gomez O'Hayon came from behind on court #2, 0-6 6-2, 6-4, putting FAU up 3-2 with two courts still in play. The Quakers captured courts #6 and #4 to even the score at 3-3.
Both teams and all eyes then turn to court #1, the match decider. Freshman Panna Bartha had left the courts on Thursday down 4-6, 2-1 and not only her perfect 10-0 overall record but the team's 10-match winning streak on the line. Bartha captured the second set and was tied at 4-4 in the third before breaking UPenn's serve for the opportunity to serve out for the win. She would capitalize by winning the match's final game, clinching the victory for the Owls.
As a note: Just one Owl, Lexi Silna, had been born when the Owls last enjoyed an 11-match winning streak.
QUOTABLE
Ricardo Gonzales, Florida Atlantic's Director of Tennis"This is just an impressive team performance. This group of girls are very special and they are very tough to beat.
Today, our girls were tested in every spot and were ready to battle. Yesterday, we played one of the best doubles points this year. #1s and #3s played some great tennis to win their matches.
In singles, we started slow and didn't do a good job executing early on, but our girls hung in there and kept fighting until the end. Kudos to Mille (Millie-Mae Matthews) for taking care of business and getting off the court first. This always helps build some momentum. Victoria (Gomez O'Hayon) and Panna (Bartha) showed some toughness when it mattered and even though they both lost the first set, they stayed positive and composed. They both showed a lot of heart and grit to get wins for the team.
We need to continue to work and clean up a few things in our games. Our team is hungry for more."
VIDEO RECAP
Results
Penn (10-5) at #63 Florida Atlantic (11-1)DATE: 03/07/2024 TIME: 10:00 AM ARENA: Kimberly V. Strauss Tennis Center SITE: Boca Raton, Fla.
Doubles
#1 Gomez O'Hayon, Victoria / Matthews, Millie-Mae [FAU] def. Gavriella Smith / Esha Velaga [PENN] 6-0
#2 Galmiche, Carla / Silna, Lexi [FAU] vs Sabine Rutlauka / Eileen Wang [PENN] 3-3 UF
#3 Bartha, Panna / McGinnis, Amber [FAU] 6-0
Order of Finish: 3, 1
Singles
#1 Bartha, Panna [FAU] def. Esha Velaga [PENN] 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
#2 Gomez O'Hayon, Victoria [FAU] def. Eileen Wang [PENN] 0-6, 6-2, 6-3
#3 Gavriella Smith [PENN] def. Galmiche, Carla [FAU] 7-5, 6-0
#4 Liza Tkachenko [PENN] def. Silna, Lexi [FAU] 7-5, 6-4
#5 Matthews, Millie-Mae [FAU] def. Saige Roshkoff [PENN] 6-3, 6-2
#6 Maya Urata [PENN] def. McGinnis [FAU] 6-3, 6-2
Order of Finish: 3, 5, 2, 6, 4, 1
UP NEXT
The Owls will next play host to their second Ivy League member Yale on Thursday, Mar. 14 at 11 a.m.FOLLOW ALONG
To follow the team socially, visit @fauwtennis, or for the most up-to-date information go to www.fausports.com.
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
3,1
#1 Singles Match
123
Esha Velaga / 0 [PENN]
644
466
#2 Singles Match
123
Eileen Wang / 0 [PENN]
624
066
#3 Singles Match
12
Gavriella Smith / 0 [PENN]
76
50
#4 Singles Match
12
Liza Tkachenko / 0 [PENN]
76
54
#5 Singles Match
12
Saige Roshkoff / 0 [PENN]
32
66
#6 Singles Match
12
Maya Urata / 0 [PENN]
66
32
Order of Finish:
3,5,2,6,4,1
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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