No. 9 Tampa Come Up Short Against No. 2 NSU

TAMPA, Fla. - The No. 9 University of Tampa tennis team hosted yet another match, this time against No. 2 Nova Southern University on Tuesday afternoon in a Top-10 SSC matchup. 

Final: No. 2 Nova Southeastern University Sharks 6, No. 9 University of Tampa Spartans 1

Location: Naimoli & Young Family Tennis Complex | Tampa, Fla.

Records: No. 2 Nova Southeastern University (17-2 , 6-1 SSC) , No. 9 University of Tampa Spartans (10-6, 4-5 SSC)

How it Happened: 

The well-built matchup, No. 1 Bizhukova/Espinal (NSU) vs No. 9 Amaro/Sanchez took place on the main court was the first match to end, resulting in a victory for NSU. On Court 2, No. 44 Wilberg/Williams gave Follin-Arbelet/Goncharov (NSU) a run for their money as the nationally-ranked Spartan duo would come out on top, 6-4. This would level the score between the two teams with the doubles point up for grabs. The final doubles match would be the decider, this involved UT's Topalovic/Presley taking on Razafindranaly/Snita (NSU) on Court 3. While Topalovic/Presley tied it at six games a piece, it would be Razafindranaly/Snita who would close out the last game to give the Sharks a one-point lead (7-6).

With the Spartans now down a point, they transitioned to singles, where on Court 2, Victoria Sanchez took on No. 9 Natalie Espinal. Sanchez lost in straight sets to Espinal. Then, Anine Wilberg faced Diane Follin-Arbelet on Court 5, where she lost 6-2, 6-3. With the Spartans now down by three, Aleks Topalovic took on Fatima Bizhukova. After a hard-fought battle in the first set, Topalovic dropped the second, resulting in another Sharks victory. Freshman Rebecca Presley did, however, defeat Eva Goncharov on Court 6 to give the Spartans their first point and only point of the match. On the main court, No. 6 Julie Razafindranaly and No. 13 Raquel Amaro battled in a matchup of two of the top players in the nation. Razafindranaly took the first set and would later win the match after closing out Amaro in the second set, 6-2. The last match still in session was between No. 21 Karolina Snita and Savannah Williams, who, after dropping the first set, 6-1, fought hard in the second, forcing a tiebreaker. Both players rallied back & forth to tally up the score into double-digits. Therefore, Snita defeated Williams 12-10 to give the Sharks the victory. 

Singles Results:

1. No. 6 Julie Razafindranaly (NSU) def. No. 13 Raquel Amaro Veloso (UT): 6-3, 6-2 
2. No. 9 Natalie Espinal (NSU) def. Victoria Sanchez (UT): 6-2, 6-2
3. No. 21 Karolina Snita def. Savannah Williams (UT): 6-1, 7-6 (12/10)   
4. Fatima Bizhukova (NSU) def. Aleks Topalovic (UT): 7-5, 6-1
5. Diane Follin-Arbelet (NSU) def. Anine Wilberg (UT): 6-2, 6-3
6. Rebecca Presley (UT) def. Eva Goncharov (NSU): 6-0, 6-4, 10-3

Doubles Results:

1. No. 1 Bizhukova/Espinal (NSU) def. No. 9 Amaro/Sanchez (UT): 6-1
2. No. 44 Wilberg/Williams (UT) def. Follin-Arbelet/Goncharov (NSU): 6-4
3. Razafindranaly/Snita (NSU) def. Topalovic/Presley (UT): 7-6

Outside the Box: 

• No. 9 Tampa drop to No. 17 via ITA rankings
• NSU have a six-match winning streak against Tampa
• Tampa has conceded over 10 points in the past two matches

UP NEXT: Tampa will verse Keiser University Tuesday, April 18th @3:00 p.m. in Tampa, Fla.