PENSACOLA, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern women’s tennis team (9-3) saw its 2021 season come to a close on Friday after an exceptionally hard-fought, four-hour loss to fifth-seeded Saint Leo. The Sharks remained in contention until the final point was secured in the 4-1 setback, after battling back from a loss in doubles at the Ralph “Skeeter” Carson Tennis Complex.
DOUBLES
- The Sharks fell in doubles play for only the third time in the 2021 season.
- The first court went to the tiebreaker, with No. 16 Molly Helgesson and Lavinia Lancellotti toppling No. 2 Natalie Espinal and Chantal Nosievici, 7-6 (4).
- As the No. 1’s finished out to secure the doubles point for Saint Leo, Daniela Obando and Isabella Lowrey were locked in a 6-6 tie with Nina Furmaniak and Takhmina Zhanatova – the senior sisters-in-law playing their final collegiate doubles match together.
- On court three, the first point went to Saint Leo as Marta Vicens Miquel and Celina Ermann defeated Karolina Snita and Diane Follin-Arbelet, 6-3.
SINGLES
- The Lions extended their lead with fourth-ranked Helgesson defeating 10th-ranked Espinal, 7-5, 6-3.
- However, on court six, second-year freshman Celia Montero Estevan rallied from a first-set shutout to put the match away in three, defeating Ashley Griffith, 0-6, 6-3, 6-2, trimming the deficit to 2-1.
- Adding the key singles points for the win, Lancellotti topped Nosievici after a long first-set tiebreaker, 7-6 (8), 6-4, then Furmaniak defeated 19th-ranked Obando in three, clinching the match with a 7-5, 5-7, 6-0 SLU win.
- Winning the first set, 6-2, 17th-ranked Snita’s second-court fight with Vicens Miquel went unfinished after the second set went to SLU, 7-6 (4) and Vicens Miquel held a slight 3-2 lead at clinch.
- On court five, Follin-Arbelet had a split match with Ermann, winning the opening set 7-5 and dropping the second, 7-6 (4).
With the loss, the Sharks are eliminated from the NCAA South Regional. Saint Leo will advance and face top-seeded Barry on Saturday. The Sharks finish 9-3 on the season and are now 44-9 over the past three seasons with a now-consistent presence in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s Top-5, consecutive Sunshine State Conference Runner-Up finishes and back-to-back NCAA postseason appearances.
SOCIAL
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