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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The No. 4 and undefeated Nova Southeastern University tennis team faces yet another tough in-conference test, playing No. 2 Barry in Miami Shores on Tuesday afternoon at 3:30 p.m.
 
The Sharks (16-0, 6-0 SSC) have had a bit of break from competition, last winning over Rollins on March 28. They will have had 10 days between matches to prepare for perennial national contenders Barry (14-1, 5-0 SSC). Tuesday's result will go a long way towards the eventual determination of both the SSC regular season champion and the postseason tournament's top seed, as these two squads are currently one and two as the only undefeated in-conference teams remaining.
 
In addition, these teams are ranked atop the ITA South Region rankings, ahead of the first official NCAA region poll, to be released on Wednesday. Besides being the top-ranked ITA South Region team, the Bucs feature three of the top 10 singles players in the region and two of the top three doubles combos. Emma Onila is second in singles and is part of the top doubles team in the region with Linda Fritschken (10th in singles). Sonja Larsen is third in singles and she and Anaeve Pain (19th in singles) are the third-ranked doubles duo.
 
In addition nationally, according to the ITA, Onila is third, Larsen sixth and Fritschken 27th in singles. Fritschken and Onila are third in the doubles rankings, and Larsen and Pain are ninth.
 
This will be the third time this season the Sharks have matched up against a top-five national opponent, though each were also SSC squads. On March 1 on the road, they beat No. 3 Saint Leo 5-4, and at home on March 16, it was another 5-4 decision, over No. 5 Lynn.
 
Barry just defeated Lynn, now ranked No. 6, in their most recent match (April 2), 7-2 at home. Their only other such contest was also the Bucs' only loss this season, to then-No. 2 (and now No. 1 and 22-0) Armstrong State, 5-4 on a neutral court in Winter Park on Feb. 22. Barry has won their last 10 heading into Tuesday.