RESULTS
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The No. 21 Nova Southeastern tennis team (2-3, 2-2 SSC) fought hard in an 8-1 loss to the third-ranked team in the nation, the Barry Buccaneers (5-0, 4-0 SSC), Tuesday at home.
"Barry is one of the best teams in Division II," said head coach
Stephen Schram. "Today they were the better team, but our girls fought hard and hung in every match. This is going to make us a better team for Saturday's match at Rollins."
The Sharks faced a team with several nationally ranked players looking to compete for a NCAA National Championship this season. However, the Sharks fought hard and were competitive across the board. The day was highlighted by the fifth straight win by
Sabrina Kierberg (So., Berlin, Germany), who remained undefeated. She took down Linda Fritschken, who ranks 31st in the nation, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4).
"Sabrina had another great match today," stated Schram. "She is proving she is one of the top players in Division II."
The Sharks were forced to make lineup adjustments, but still took Barry's best shot in doubles play. NSU won a combined 10 points in doubles against the Bucs, the most combined points that Barry has given up in doubles play this year.
Fritschken and Emma Onila, the nation's top-ranked doubles team, defeated NSU's Kierberg and
Alex Kaeser (Fr., Woodstock, Ga.) in the top flight, 8-2. The match was Kaeser's spring debut. In the second flight,
Alexandra Johansson (Jr., Sydney, Australia) and
Charlotte Cote (Jr., Montreal, Canada) were defeated by Kimmy Twelker and Anaeve Pain, 8-4. Barry earned the doubles sweep when sophomores
Iryna Serdyuk (Boca Raton, Fla.)
Linda Kornienko (Fort Myers, Fla.) lost to Blanka Szavay and Isabela Miro, 8-4. The Bucs are undefeated in doubles play through five matches this season.
In the top flight of singles play, Johansson played against the nation's eighth-ranked singles player and back-to-back Sunshine State Conference Player of the Week, Onila. The Bucs' ace won after a hard-fought second set, 6-0 6-3. In the third flight,
Carlee Rizzolo (So., Livingston, N.J.) faced 19th-ranked Karina Goia and fell, 6-1, 6-3. In the next draw, Cote fell to Pain, 6-2, 6-3. Kornienko moved up into the fifth draw to face the nation's ninth-ranked player, Elisabeth Abanda, who sat out of doubles play. Abanda earned the win over Kornienko, 6-1, 6-2. Finally,
Bianca Roberts (Jr., Tampa, Fla.) stepped into the sixth slot and lost to Szavay, 6-1, 6-1.
NSU will look to rebound in its first road match of the season Saturday against Rollins at 10 a.m.
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