LAKELAND, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern University women's tennis team returned to action on Sunday at the ITA South Regional Championship in Lakeland, Fla., deep in the brackets with the singles semifinals and doubles quarterfinals on the schedule. With tough battles throughout, senior Ana Navas moved on to represent the Sharks in the singles finals.
 
"These young ladies are competing with the effort, energy and attitude that we want," third-year head coach Doug Neagle said. "As a coach, all I ask is for their best effort for every ball, and that is what they are doing."
 
"I am so happy for our freshman Natalie Espinal," Neagle added. "She had a great run for her first collegiate tournament. To be that young and to keep her composure the way she does – it's impressive. The future is very bright for Natalie."
 
Day 3 Recap
 
Doubles

• The duo of Daniela Obando and Navas earned victory in their first quarterfinal match of the day, defeating University of West Florida pair Karolina Silwanowicz and Berta Bonardi, 8-6. However, after a tough fight, the NSU tandem barely fell to top-seeded pair Verena Schmid and Zuza Maciejewska from defending National Champion Barry, 8-6.

 
Singles

• Ana Navas advanced to the singles finals with semifinal victory on Sunday over Barry's Carolin Schmidt, 6-4, 6-3. Her Monday opponent for the singles title will be UWF's Bonardi at 9:00 a.m.
• Appearing in her first intercollegiate tournament, freshman Natalie Espinal fell in her first ITA semifinal appearance to Bonardi, 6-4, 6-4, going 4-1 in her NCAA debut tournament.
• Freshman Diane Follin-Arbelet downed Rollins' Aleksandra Durzynski 6-2, 4-6, 10-6 in a three-set consolation quarterfinal, but was eliminated in an 10-12 third-set semifinal tiebreaker by University of Alabama in Huntsville's Presley Thomas, 6-2, 4-6, 10-12.

 
Shark Facts

• NSU went 13-5 in singles and 4-2 in doubles through three days of ITA Regional competition.

 
Up Next: Ana Navas looks to take home the singles title at the ITA South Regional Championship at 9:00 a.m. on Monday in Lakeland.