DALLAS, Texas – The Florida Atlantic Owls' women's tennis team, ranked No. 63 nationally, played the program's first American Athletic Conference Championship match in program history, where the No. 6 seeded Owls recorded a 4-2 win over the No. 11 seed UAB Blazers.
With the win, Florida Atlantic moves to 13-8 overall and will face the tournament's No. 3 seed Memphis on Friday, at 7 p.m. EST.
The Owls earned wins on doubles courts two and three to secure the best 2-of-3 matches for the coveted doubles point over UAB.
Shortly thereafter, junior
Lexi Silna would put the Owls up 2-0 with a 6-2, 6-2 win on singles court #5. UAB would win on courts #4 and #1 to even the match's score at 2-2. Junior
Victoria Gomez O'Hayon would come from behind to win her first set 7-6 (7-3) and then closed out her match with a 6-3 second set victory.
With two matches in progress, a 3-2 Owls' lead, both matches were pushed to a third set. It was sophomore
Carla Galmiche who clinched the match for Florida Atlantic with a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 win.
FAU has played Memphis just once in program history, back on Mar. 24, 2024. Memphis won that match by a 4-3 score at a neutral site.
Assistant Coach Maria Alvarez
On Thursday's win
"It was a tough match, starting off with a hard-fought doubles point that ended up being crucial for the win. We started singles play with some nerves and hesitation, but the girls stepped up and showed experience, toughness and perseverance, which led us to get the win."
UAB (13-11) v #63 Florida Atlantic (13-8)
DATE: 04/18/2024 TIME: 6:55 PM ARENA: Styslinger Altec Tennis Complex SITE: Dallas, Texas
Doubles
#1 Mackenzie White / Vanessa Mellynchuk [UAB] def. Gomez O'Hayon, Victoria / Matthews, Millie-Mae [FAU] 6-1
#2 Bartha, Panna / Silna, Lexi [FAU] def. Adela Wasserbauerova / Sydney Clarke [UAB] 6-2
#3 Galmiche, Carla / McGinnis, Amber [FAU] def. Klara Kajabova / Maggie White [UAB] 6-3
Order of Finish: 1, 2, 3
Singles
#1 Adela Wasserbauerova [UAB] def. Bartha, Panna [FAU] 6-4, 6-2
#2 Gomez O'Hayon, Victoria [FAU] def. Klara Kajabova [UAB] 7-6, 6-3
#3 Galmiche, Carla [FAU] def. Mackenzie White [UAB] 3-6, 6-2, 6-3
#4 Sydney Clarke [UAB] def. McGinnis, Amber [FAU\ 6-2, 6-1
#5 Silna, Lexi [FAU] def. Vanessa Mellynchuk [UAB] 6-2, 6-2
#6 Enya Ratkic [UAB] def. Matthews, Millie-Mae [FAU] 6-0, 4-6, 2-2 UF
Order of Finish: 5, 4, 1, 2, 3
The Owls advance to the AAC Championship quarterfinal and will play No. 3 seed Memphis on Friday at 7 p.m. EST.
To follow the team socially, visit @fauwtennis, or for the most up-to-date information go to
www.fausports.com.