All three American Athletic Conference entrants to the 2018 NCAA Women’s Tennis Championship came away with first-round wins Friday as UCF, Wichita State and Tulsa all advanced in their respective tournament openers.
 
UCF scored its first tournament win in program history as the Knights held off FIU for a 4-3 victory in Coral Gables, Florida. Wichita State scored a 4-1 win against Syracuse for the Shockers’ first tournament win since 2007, and Tulsa capped The American’s showing with a 4-2 victory against LSU, sending the Golden Hurricane to the second round for the second time in three years.
 
UCF 4, FIU 3
UCF, which was making its first NCAA tournament appearance since 2002, picked up its first NCAA win in school history as Monica Matias delivered a 7-6 (4), 1-6, 6-4 win at No. 4 singles to break what had been a 3-3 tie. A key win at No. 1 doubles from Ksenia Kuznetsova/Maria Martinez against the nation’s No. 24-ranked tandem helped the Knights get the doubles point, allowing UCF to clinch the match by splitting the singles contests. Rebeka Stolmar, The American’s Rookie of the Year, scored a straight-set win at No. 3 singles, while Natalia Serrano was a straight-set winner at No. 5.
 
UCF will face Miami (Fla.) in Saturday’s second round (noon ET). The Knights would face either Florida or Florida State in the round of 16 if they defeat the Hurricanes.
 
 
Wichita State 4, Syracuse 1
Wichita State was making its 10th consecutive NCAA tournament appearance, but the Shockers picked up their first win in the bracket since 2007 and did so in convincing fashion with the win against Syracuse in Oxford, Mississippi. Fatima Bizhukova led the way for Wichita State as she scored a straight-set win at No. 1 singles against Syracuse’s top player, who was ranked No. 5 nationally. Bizhukova also turned in a win at No. 1 doubles with Marta Bellucco, knocking off the Orange’s No. 8-ranked tandem.
 
Wichita State moves on to face Ole Miss Saturday at 3 p.m.
 
 
Tulsa 4, LSU 2
Tulsa, which won The American’s automatic bid to the tournament, was led by American Athletic Conference Player of the Year Ksenia Laskutova as the Golden Hurricane scored a 4-2 win against LSU in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Laskutova was a 6-1, 6-4 winner at No. 1 singles against the Tigers’ top player, while she paired with Martha Matoula for a 6-3 win at No. 1 doubles against the nation’s No. 29-ranked tandem.
 
Tulsa will face the winner of Friday’s first-round match between Oklahoma State and UMKC. Saturday’s second-round match in Stillwater will start at 3 p.m. ET.
 
 
 
NCAA DIVISION I WOMEN’S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP
American Athletic Conference Pairings
 
First Round May 11
at Coral Gables, Fla.
UCF 4, FIU 3
 
at Stillwater, Okla.
Tulsa 4, LSU 2
                                                                                
at Oxford, Miss.
Wichita State 4, Syracuse 1
 
 
Second Round May 12
at Coral Gables, Fla.
UCF (20-4) vs. Miami (Fla.) (17-7), Noon
 
at Stillwater, Okla.
Tulsa (22-5) vs. UMKC (15-9)/Oklahoma State (19-4), 2 p.m.
                                                                                
at Oxford, Miss.
Wichita State (18-8) vs. Ole Miss (21-6), 3 p.m.