FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The No. 5 Nova Southeastern women’s tennis team was forced off the courts by rain in Saturday’s Sunshine State Conference opener against the Tampa Spartans. However, with the doubles win already secured for NSU, the Sharks and Spartans returned to action on Monday morning, and NSU rolled to a 6-1 conference win at the NSU Tennis Complex at Rolling Hills.
DOUBLES
- Completing that portion on Saturday prior to the rain, the Sharks swept through the doubles, opening on a commanding victory for NCAA No. 1 pair Natalie Espinal and Sarah Wardenburg, who went 6-0 to defeat Ekaterina Grib and Savannah Williams in the first flight.
- Second-flight tandem of Karolina Snita and Diane Follin-Arbelet secured the 6-3 victory over Lilley Nice and Vanina Iordanova to clinch the doubles point.
- Wrapping up the doubles sweep, Daniela Obando and Tingting Pei earned a 7-5 win over Corbin Dorsey and Dakota Busch.
SINGLES
- The first completed matches were by retirement, one to each team in the first and fifth flights, setting the score at 2-1 in NSU’s favor.
- NCAA No. 38 Obando delivered a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Dorsey at No. 3 singles, quickly starting the dominoes of victory into action.
- Just moments behind Obando at No. 4 singles, Pei clinched the match for NSU with a smooth 6-4, 6-4 win over Nice.
- After some long points slowed things down, Snita finished off Williams in the second flight with a 6-3, 6-3 win.
- Out on six with Celia Montero Estevan battled UT’s Nicoline Palmgren, both players grinded out some long points. However, Montero Estevan came out on top and delivered the 6-4, 7-5 win to close out the first conference victory of the year.
FROM COACH DOUG NEAGLE
“Good first conference win today. Our team knows that Tampa is a team of fighters every year, and I liked the way our team fought today.”
UP NEXT
The Sharks will remain at home for one more match before a busy, key weekend. NSU will face Palm Beach Atlantic at home Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 3:00 p.m. in SSC play, before taking in road matches against Eckerd, Florida Southern and Davenport.
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