Spartans Tennis Drops Match To No. 2 Nova

Casas and Gutkowski
Casas and Gutkowski
February 25, 2025

Tampa, Fla- The University of Tampa's Women's Tennis team took on another top ranked team this afternoon, No. 2 Nova Southeastern. With an opening meet schedule that featured a D1 Navy program and the top two teams in the country (Barry and Nova), the Spartans are still looking for their first meet win. 

Final: No. 2 Nova Southeastern 7, No. 22 University of Tampa Spartans 0

Location: Naimoli and Young Tennis Complex | Tampa, Fla.

Records: No. 22 Tampa (0-3, 0-2 SSC), No. 2 Nova Southeastern (7-0, 4-0 SSC)

History: This was the 38th time these two programs have faced off, Nova leads the all-time series 28-10. 

How it Happened: 

The match started out with doubles competition before transitioning to singles play. In doubles, Nicole Cierniak and Victoria Sanchez started out strong for the Spartans. They won a hard fought tie breaker match to win the first doubles point of the day for Tampa. Unfortunately, Nova was able to battle back as a team and pick up the last two double matches and the first match point of the day. Singles play was exactly what one would expect from a top 25 matchup, nothing but gritty back and forth matches. The Spartans got swept in the singles play despite multiple strong showings. Nicole Cierniak and Nicole Casas both took their opponents to three sets, but each fell short in the end. While Nova took singles play 6-0, the matches were full of excitement and could've gone either way. Three total sets went to a tie breaker and six sets were tied 3-3 in the middle. The scoresheet does not fully show it, but this Spartan squad proved for the third match in a row they have the potential to take down the nation's finest.  

 

Doubles Results: 

  1. Cierniak/Sanchez (UT) def. Habekovic/Hranacova (NSU) 7-6 (7-3)

  2. Ciancaglini/Shing (NSU) def. Casas/Gutkowski (UT) 6-3

  3. Dadoun/Moraes (NSU) def. Axelsson/Chebli (UT) 6-2

 

Singles Results: 

  1. Kristyna Hranacova (NSU) def. Victoria Sanchez (UT) 6-0, 6-2

  2. Ita Habekovic (NSU) def. Nicole Casas (UT) 6-4, 4-6, 6-3

  3. Sofia Shing (NSU) def. Nicole Cierniak (UT) 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-1

  4. Isabella Ciancaglini (NSU) def. Ida Axelsson (UT) 7-5, 6-4

  5. Noemie Dadoun (NSU) def. L Eriksson Sundling (UT) 6-1, 7-5

  6. Julia Moraes (NSU) def. Sophie Wagner (UT) 6-1, 6-1

 

UP NEXT: Tampa Women's Tennis will be back in action in less than 24 hours. The Spartans will travel to the USTA National Tennis Center in Orlando to face Davenport at 4:00pm.