TEMPE, Ariz. – Moving up in the third ranking of the year from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), the No. 3 Nova Southeastern Sharks women’s tennis team (7-1) also logged three players in the Top 20, including a pair in the Top 10, as well as the No. 2 doubles pair.
The play of Natalie Espinal (Tegucigalpa, Honduras), Karolina Snita (Glagow, Poland) and Daniela Obando (Tegucigalpa, Honduras) have clearly captured the attention at the national office. An All-American in doubles and singles in 2020, Espinal is 6-2 this season – the second go-around at her sophomore campaign, and ranks the highest for NSU at No. 10. Also a 2020 singles All-American, Snita is 7-1 for her redshirt junior year and comes in with the No. 17 ranking. Rounding out the trio, Obando is No. 19 with a 5-0 record as a senior in 2021.
Keeping pace with her 2020 season, Espinal is also one half of the No. 2 doubles pair in the rankings, working in tandem with junior Chantal Nosievici for a 5-2 record against foes from the dominant Sunshine State Conference.
As a team, the Sharks leaped over then-No. 3 Lynn after downing the Fighting Knights on March 24 in a near-perfect 7-0 victory. The Sharks regain their highest program ranking where they started the season and now rank second in the SSC and South Region.
“It’s nice to see our team, three singles players, and one doubles team recognized with high rankings,” head coach Doug Neagle said. “We are keeping our goals vague and truly trying to focus on the next team on our schedule. I feel our ladies are doing just that, hence these well-deserved rankings.”
Nova Southeastern closes off the regular season on Saturday, April 17 at home against No. 19 Florida Southern for Senior Day. The Sunshine State Conference Championships will follow, with higher seeds hosting from April 21-24.
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