Tampa Drops Match To No. 5 Flagler

Team
Team
March 7, 2025

 

Tampa, Fla - The University of Tampa's Women's Tennis team took on another top ranked team this morning, the No. 5 ranked Flagler Saints. With this being the 5th top tier opponet the Spartnms have faced already this season, the team knew what to expect from the Saints. Both sides played their hearts out but Flagler was just too much for Tampa to handle. 

 

Final: No. 5 Flagler Saints 6, University of Tampa Spartans 1

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

Records: Tampa (1-6), No. 5 Flagler (8-1)

History: This was the 8th time these two programs have faced off, Flagler leads the all-time series 6-2. 

How it Happened: 

The match started out with doubles competition before transitioning to singles play. In doubles, the Spartans battled hard but fell in all three matches giving Flagler the first point of the match. Nicole Cases and Sophia Gutowski put up the best fight for Tampa during doubles, leading 3-2 in their set before falling 6-4 to the Saints. The Spartans continue to switch up pairings as they try and find their true top six as the season continues. Singles play started out strong for the Spartans, with Sundling and Sanchez winning their first sets. Unfortunately, Flagler was able to sweep four courts in two sets, securing the match win with those four points. The Saints were even able to battle back on Sanchez and take that court point as well. Sundling held on to sweep her opponent in straight sets (6-4, 6-3), earning the lone point for the Spartans. In the end, Tampa once again failed to stun a top five in the country but still showed why they were a preseason top 25 squad. 

 

Doubles Results: 

  1. Dana Heimen/Anastasia Nikolova (FC) def. Nicole Cierniak/Victoria Sanchez (UT) 6-1

  2. 2. Eryka Kruk/Polya Nikolova (FC) def. Nicole Casas/Sophia Gutkowski (UT) 6-4

  3. 3. Sofia Balsera/Adela Latalova (FC) def. Ida Axelsson/L Eriksson Sundling (UT) 6-0 

Singles Results: 

  1. Dana Heimen (FC) def. Nicole Casas (UT) 6-2, 6-3

  2. Anastasia Nikolova (FC) def. Victoria Sanchez (UT) 3-6, 6-2, 6-1

  3. Adela Latalova (FC) def. Ida Axelsson (UT) 7-5, 6-1

  4. L Eriksson Sundling (UT) def. Laura Jipescu (FC) 6-4, 6-3

  5. Eryka Kruk (FC) def. Alexandra Chebli (UT) 6-3, 6-2

  6. Sofia Balsera (FC) def. Sophie Wagner (UT) 6-3, 6-4

UP NEXT: Tampa Women's Tennis will be back on the court in 12 days as they will be off next week. The Spartans will host Texas-Dallas on Wednesday, March 19th at 3:00pm.