FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The No. 3 Nova Southeastern women’s tennis team (9-1) advanced to the final of the Sunshine State Conference Championships for the second consecutive time, charging to a clean 4-0 victory over No. 8 nationally-ranked third seed Saint Leo (7-3) at the NSU Tennis Center at Rolling Hills. The Sharks won the doubles point and jumped out to a 3-0 lead, but weather separated NSU from its fourth point by nearly two hours before NSU finalized the victory.
DOUBLES
- On the first court, the nation’s No. 2 doubles pair of Natalie Espinal and Chantal Nosievici went to work quickly on 15th-ranked SLU pair of Molly Helgesson and Lavinia Lancellotti, claiming the early advantage on a 6-2 win.
- While court two proved to be a see-saw battle that was headed for extended play, on court three Karolina Snita and Diane Follin-Arbelet capitalized on the chance to claim the point, defeating Marta Vicens Miquel and Celina Ermann, 6-2.
SINGLES
- Working with the early advantage, Celia Montero Estevan blew past Takhmina Zhanatova over on six in 6-1, 6-1 victories.
- On the opposite end of the facility, the first court saw 10th-ranked Espinal avenge her early-season loss to No. 4 Helgesson, delivering the 6-2, 6-2 win to put the Sharks within one point of moving to the title match.
- With a couple of courts very much within striking distance of the clinch point, the anticipated South Florida storms moved in and the sky opened for more than an hour – the Sharks halted just moments from the win.
- Coming back from a near two-hour delay, 19th-ranked Daniela Obando finished what she started, downing Nina Furmaniak, 6-3, 6-3 to clinch the match for the Sharks.
- On court four, Nosievici led Lancellotti, 7-5, 5-2. No. 17 Karolina Snita earned the win in the first set over Marta Vicens Miquel on court two, 7-5. On five, Follin-Arbelet trailed in the second set after winning the first, 6-4.
FROM COACH DOUG NEAGLE
“What a day for both teams. Our kids played well in the big moments and that’s a credit to them believing in themselves. We wanted this match bad and their energy showed just that. During the rain delay their players got off the bus and helped our crew squeegee the courts, which speaks volumes about their program. Unbelievable sportsmanship! Coach Berryhill does a great job and their kids helping us dry courts speaks for itself.”
UP NEXT
As noted above, the Sunshine State Conference Championships remain on the slate for Saturday with the Final coming up. However, the opponent will be determined in the morning, as NSU will face the winner of Thursday morning’s rescheduled meeting between top-seeded Barry and fourth-seeded Lynn in Miami Shores. The outcome will also determine the location.
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