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GAINESVILLE, Fla. (Seminoles.com) – Freshman Olympe Lancelot’s three-set victory over FIU’s Ines Bekrar clinched the Florida State Women’s Tennis Team’s hard-fought 4-2 win over the 42nd-ranked Panthers on Saturday afternoon at the NCAA First Round in Gainesville, Fla.
A double fault by Bekrar ended the match as the Seminoles (15-10) had to work feverishly to get past a talented and tough Panthers (17-5) squad. FSU will face either regional host Florida or South Alabama on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. ET for the right to head to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the second straight season.
WIN AND ADVANCE!
The Noles take down the Panthers in a thrilling match!
The Noles will face the winner of South Alabama/Florida tomorrow. More details to come. #OneTribe🍢 | #NCAATennis pic.twitter.com/lyqwtT1H4G
— FSU Women's Tennis (@FSU_WTennis) May 7, 2022
“We found four points today, and once again, it did not come easy; it hasn’t all year,” FSU Head Coach Jen Hyde said. “The conditions were very challenging, with some gusty and swirling winds, but we managed that challenge very well today.
“Big kudos to our freshie Olympe for taking advantage of the opportunity to finish and get a clinch in the postseason,” Hyde added. “She was poised under pressure, and we are so happy for her to have and get that moment today.”
Lancelot defeated Bekrar 4-6, 6-0, 6-3 on Saturday, emerging from her first-set loss and dominating in frame No. 2. She held strong in what would be the decisive third set of the match, winning long rallies and battling through the windy conditions.
No. 1 singles player Petra Hule notched her 201st and 202nd career wins on Saturday. She teamed with Anna Arkadianou to win the clinching doubles point over Kamila Umarova/Andjela Skrobonja, 7-6 (7-2). Hule then fell behind against Yasmine Kabbaj in No. 1 singles but managed to come back and win in three sets, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. The singles win by Hule put FSU ahead 3-2 in the match to set up Lancelot’s clincher.
Olympe Lancelot with the CLINCHING point over the Panthers! 🍢
Relive the moment here 👇 pic.twitter.com/hhdZpfSb3p
— FSU Women's Tennis (@FSU_WTennis) May 7, 2022
Hule’s doubles win ties her with Andrea Garcia (2017-21) for the most doubles victories in school history with 106.
Senior Kianah Motosono made quick work of her opponent in No. 5 singles, winning 6-2, 6-2 over FIU’s Basak Akbas to get FSU’s first singles win of the match.
Lancelot added two wins on the day as she joined Lesedi Jacobs in defeating Yasmine Kabbaj and Ines Bekrar 6-4.
The win over FIU marked FSU’s sixth consecutive NCAA First Round victory dating back to 2014.
