No. 5 Embry-Riddle Eliminate No. 12 Tampa in SSC Quarterfinals

Bradenton, Fla. - The No. 12 University of Tampa tennis team traveled to Beerman Family Tennis Center, Friday morning to face off against rival, No. 5 Embry-Riddle in the SSC Quarterfinals. 

Final:No. 5 Embry-Riddle Eagles 4 , No. 12 University of Tampa Spartans 2

Location: Beerman Family Tennis Center | Lakeland, Fla.

Records: Embry-Riddle Eagles (16-6 , 6-3 SSC) , No. 12 University of Tampa Spartans (15-4 , 6-3 SSC)

How it Happened: 

The match started off with Williams/Wilberg dueling against, Issler/Cabero (ERAU) on the third court. With one more game to clinch the match, Embry-Riddle's Issler/Cabero obtained the point/match to give their team an early lead. However, Cierniak/Miletic closed out, Kirivong/Hadipoernomo (ERAU) in yet another nail-biter (6-1) to even the score. Any teams ball game, leaving Court 1 in the hands of No. 23 Ball/Sanchez who would come through for the Eagles, taking doubles and earning the very first point of the match.

The match transitions to singles where both teams battled to earn their victories. Tampa evened the score at one, with Rebecca Presley's victory over Alessia Tripaldelli (ERAU). Following, the Spartans got the second point with Savannah Williams beating Laura Cuesta (ERAU) 7-5, 6-2. Embry-Riddle would put the pressure on Tampa after they won back-to-back matches to win the meet. On Court 4, it was Carla Cabero (ERAU) over Nicole Cierniak in straight sets, following J Wira Hadipoernomo (ERAU) defeating Kristina Miletic on Court 5 in three sets. With the Eagles only needing one more match to advance to the SSC Semifinals, Victoria Sanchez took Embry-Riddle's Maja Issler to a third set after winning the second. However, the final set was awarded to Issler, who Sanchez did not make it easy for. No. 5 Embry-Riddle advance to the SSC Semifinals after an outstanding performance from both respective teams.

Singles Results:

1. No. 23 Itxaso Blanco (ERAU) vs. No. 27 Julie Ball (UT): 2-6, 6-1, 4-3 (unf.)
2. No. 47 Maja Issler (ERAU) def. Victoria Sanchez (UT): 6-2, 4-6, 6-4
3. Savannah Williams (UT) def. Laura Cuesta Bret (ERAU): 7-5, 6-2
4. Carla Cabero del Hierro (ERAU) def. Nicole Cierniak (UT): 6-3, 6-1
5. J Wira Hadipoernomo (ERAU) def. Kristina Miletic (UT): 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
6. Rebecca Presley (UT) def. Alessia Tripaldelli (ERAU): 6-1, 6-1

Doubles Results:

1. No. 13 Blanco/Cuesta (ERAU) def. No. 23 Ball/Sanchez (UT): 6-2
2. Miletic/Cierniak (UT) def. Kirivong/Hadipoernomo (ERAU): 6-1
3. Issler/Cabero (ERAU) def. Wilberg/Williams (UT): 6-0

Outside the Box: 

• The Spartans made history with the program's best season.
• Cierniak/Miletic win their eighth-straight match.

UP NEXT: Tampa will contend in the NCAA Division II South Regional Tournament Monday, May 10th. Location & Opponent are TBA.