Spartans Get One Match from Sharks
February 17, 2020

Spartans Get One Match from Sharks

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.- The University of Tampa Spartans faced off at the Nova Southeastern Sharks in a Monday morning match. The match, originally scheduled for Saturday afternoon (suspended and postponed by inclement weather), started at 10 a.m. to begin the workweek. After losing to #1 Barry on Sunday, the Spartans faced a quick turnaround, and a similar result, versus the fifth ranked team in the nation.

Final: #5 Nova Southeastern University: 6, The University of Tampa: 1

Team Records: The University of Tampa: 1-3, #5 Nova Southeastern University: 4-0

How it Happened:

  • Tampa lost all three doubles-matches for the first time this season. The Spartans forwent doubles competition yesterday at Barry.

  • Ekaterina Grib and Savannah Williams notably lost 6-0 to Nova Southeastern's Natalie Espinal and Sarah Wardenburg. The top nationally-ranked pairing of Espinal and Wardenburg are an undefeated duo this season (19-4 overall record in 2019).

  • Grib won the Spartans only match, as she defeated #4 Natalie Espinal 2-3 with Espinal retiring after five games played.

  • Dakota Busch (playing as Tampa's #5 singles) was forced to retire at 6-6 (3-6) in the first set in a competitive match against Sarah Wardenburg. Wardenburg's victory clinched the match victory for the Sharks.

  • In the four fully played matches the Spartans lost, Tampa players won at least three games in seven out of eight sets lost.

Up Next: Tampa continues a busy beginning to the season, facing off against Bates College in Orlando, Fla., tomorrow at 4 p.m. The neutral-site match will be held at the USTA National Complex. The Spartans defeated the Bobcats 7-2 in the only match between the two teams in 2008. Tampa is then set to return to Tampa for a home SSC match vs. #18 Florida Southern College. UT and FSC faced off in the UT Invitational (1/31-2/2) to start the season 1/31-2/2.

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