UNT Holds on for 4-3 Win Over No. 50 Cal Poly

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TUCSON, Ariz. – No. 61 Mean Green tennis picked up its third win over a ranked opponent this season, defeating No. 50 Cal Poly, 4-3, on Sunday from the LaNelle Robson Tennis Center on the campus of the University of Arizona.

North Texas (6-4) got things started early against the Mustangs (4-4), grabbing its first doubles point on the road since Feb. 3, a 4-3 loss to No. 32 Arkansas.

“Ilona (Serchenko) and Nadia (Lee) continue to be a rock for us,” said associate head coach Jeff Maren. “We are happy with the win but know that we have a lot of work to do before facing South Alabama on Friday.”

Freshman Kseniya Bardabush and senior Irina Paraschiv picked up a, 8-5 win on court number two to seal the doubles point after Cal Poly defaulted on court three.

The beginning of singles saw the Mean Green lead immediately move to 2-0 with a default by the Mustangs at the No. 6 singles slot.

Senior Nadia Lee expanded that North Texas lead to 3-0 with a dominating, 6-2, 6-2, win over Kathryn Webb on court number three.

Cal Poly would make the match 3-1 with a win at No. 4 singles before junior Ilona Serchenko sealed the win for the Mean Green with a 6-1, 7-5 victory at the No. 5 line.

Bardabush and junior Valentina Starkova fell just short of expanding the lead further; dropping their matches from the No. 1 and No. 2 slots respectively in three sets.

No. 50 Cal Poly is the third ranked team that the Mean Green has defeated this season.

No. 61 North Texas will be back in action on Friday, Feb. 24 at the Waranch Tennis Complex when it plays host to South Alabama at 2 p.m.