RESULTS

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The No. 21 Nova Southeastern tennis team (1-0, 1-0 SSC) started the season off on a high note, defeating the No. 15 Florida Tech Panthers (0-1, 0-1 SSC), 6-3, at home Saturday.
 
It was a sound victory for the Sharks, who won doubles, 2-1, and singles, 4-2. It was the first match under the tenure of new head coach Stephen Schram.
 
"I am so proud of how these girls competed today," said Schram. "They were very prepared for the match and have worked extremely hard on and off the court. It was nice to see us avenge a 7-2 loss last season and beat a higher ranked team to start the season. I am looking forward to getting back to practice on Monday to prepare for two very tough matches next weekend."
 
NSU put itself in good position early by taking the second and third doubles matches. Alexandra Johansson (Jr., Sydney, Australia) and Charlotte Cote (Jr., Montreal, Canada), NSU's most successful doubles team last season, continued to show great chemistry in a win over Jessica Widmark and Meritt Rabson, 8-2. Sophomores Juliet Serabian (Plantation, Fla.) and Linda Kornienko (Fort Myers, Fla.) earned a win as well over Chloe Chanley and Katie Close, 8-2. The Sharks' only loss in doubles play came at the top flight, as Sabrina Kierberg (So., Berlin, Germany) and Carlee Rizzolo (Livingstone, N.J.) fell to Kristina Huba and Natasa Vukovic, 8-3.
 
The Sharks' depth paid dividends in singles play, with NSU taking flights two through five. Kierberg quickly bounced back from her doubles loss and defeated Vukovic, 7-6 (3), 6-3. Rizzolo earned the same result in the third draw, defeating Widmark, 6-0, 6-4. Cote and Serabian each ended the day undefeated in the fourth and fifth flights, respectively. Cote defeated Rabson, 6-1, 6-3, while Serabian took down Chanley, 6-3, 6-2.
 
NSU took two tough singles losses, but neither would matter in the end. Johansson started the season in the top singles draw and lost to the nation's 12th ranked player in Kristina Huba, 6-2, 6-1. In the sixth flight, Kornienko lost to Gwendolyn Kaufman, 6-3, 2-6 (10-6). Kornienko's opponent did not compete in doubles play and had fresh legs entering the match.
 
The Sharks will return in one week to host NCAA Division I opponent Bethune-Cookman on Feb. 8 at 2:30 p.m.

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