No. 25 Tampa is Overpowered by No. 2 Nova

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The University of Tampa tennis team fell short in an unfinished match to the No. 2 ranked Nova Southeastern.

Final: No. 2 Nova Southeastern University Sharks 7, No. 25 University of Tampa Spartans 0
Location: NSU Tennis Center | Fort Lauderdale Fla.
Records: Tampa 1-1, 0-1 SSC; National ranking #25, Nova Southeastern 2-0, 2-0 SSC; National ranking #2

How it happened:

The well-built matchup, No. 1 Davies/Espinal (NSU) vs Ball/Sanchez took place on the main court was the first match to end, resulting in a victory for NSU. On Court 2, On court 2 the sharks secured the first point by beating Miletic/Cierniak. The final doubles match would be the decider, this involved UT's Williams/Wilberg taking on Shing/Benedejcic (NSU) on Court 3. While Williams/Wilberg tied it at three games a piece, it would be Shing/Beneejcic who would close out the last game to give the Sharks the third doubles match.

With the Spartans now down a point, they transitioned to singles. Court 5 was the first one to finish where Nicole Cierniak fell in straight sets, following Anine Wilberg, on court 6, faced Ita Habekovic where she lost 6-4, 6-1. On Court 1, Victoria Sanchez took on No. 17 Natalie Espinal. Sanchez lost in straight sets to Espinal. Then, Nicole Casas faced Sofia Shing on Court 4, where she lost 6-3, 6-1. 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. On the second court, No. 6 Lexi Weir and Julie Ball battled in a matchup. Ball took the first set, but lost the following two 6-4, 10-8. The last match still in session was between No. 33 Freya Davies and Savannah Williams, who, after dropping the first set, 6-1, fought hard in the second, forcing a tiebreaker in the second set, where Snita defeated Williams 7-6(6) to give the Sharks the victory.

Singles Results:
1. #17 Natalie Espinal (NSU) def. Victoria Sanchez (UT) 6-0, 6-3
2. #6 Lexi Weir (NSU) def. #21 Julie Ball (UT) 3-6, 6-4, 10-8
3. #33 Freya Davies (NSU) vs. Savannah Williams (UT) 6-4, 7-6(6)
4. Lian Benedejcic (NSU) vs. Nicole Casas (UT) 6-3, 6-1
5. Sofia Shing (NSU) vs. Nicole Cierniak (UT) 6-0, 6-0
6. Ita Habekovic (NSU) def. Anine Wilberg (UT) 6-4, 6-1

Doubles Results:
1. #1 Natalie Espinal/Freya Davis (NSU) def. Victoria Sanchez/Julie Ball (UT) 6-0
2. Sofia Shing/Lian Benedejcic (NSU) def. Nicole Cierniak/Kristina Miletic (UT) 6-1
3. Patrice Kubikova/Lexi Weir (NSU) vs. Savannah Williams/Anine Wilberg (UT) 6-3

Out of the box: The Spartans have faced the #2 team nationally and will face #1 tomorrow making it back-to-back matches.

Up next: The Spartans are on the road again to face Barry on Sunday in Miami, Fla.