ROME, Ga. – The Nova Southeastern women's tennis tandem of Natalie Espinal and Sarah Wardenburg weren't put off by the challenges of the day on Saturday at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's ITA Cup, earning the Division II National Championship in doubles – a program-first in the team's first-ever appearance at the tournament. Espinal was also in the singles semifinals but wasn't able to triumph in the rematch with the nation's top player. Doubles play continues Sunday with the ITA Cup trophy on the line.

Student-athletes competing at the 2019 ITA Cup have their sights set on qualification for the Oracle ITA National Fall Championships, where they will compete in the same tournament as the nation's top Division I players. The tournament this weekend featured the top 16 performers in both singles and doubles play across the nation in NCAA Division II, as well as competitors from NCAA DIII, NAIA and junior college in their own tournaments.
 
Singles Play
Back at the Rome Tennis Center at Berry College bright and early, Espinal opened the day in a key rematch against West Florida's Berta Bonardi, the reigning No. 1 player in NCAA Division II. In the prior meeting, Espinal handed Bonardi only her second loss to advance last month at the ITA South Regional in Pensacola, Fla. On Saturday, they battled it out once again, with Bonardi coming out on top 6-4, 6-3 to advance to the singles final – bringing Espinal's singles play to an end.
 
Doubles Play
After waiting out a six-hour rain delay, Espinal and Wardenburg took the court indoors at Lawrence Plantation against Tusculum's Annie and Caitlyn McCullough. The teams scrapped it out, with the Sharks triumphant in a 7-6 (3), 6-4 win over the Pioneers' pair, laying claim to the doubles DII Championship.
 
However, there is more tennis to play, as the tandem moves on to the semifinals of the ITA Cup, with the four Non-Division I sections squaring off for the ITA Cup trophy on Sunday. Espinal and Wardenburg start their day at 9:00 a.m. at the Rome Tennis Center at Berry College against the NAIA Champion, top-seeded Lailaa Bashir and Angela Charles-Alfred from Xavier (La.).
 
The other semifinal is between the champions from the NCAA Division III and junior college ranks – Claremont Mudd-Scripps' Catherine Allen and Justine Leong facing Tyler's Helena Jansen and Emelie Schwarte.
 
Direct From Coach Doug Neagle
"I am so happy for Sarah and Natty. They deserved this! Their pure desire to win, effort and energy showed just how much they wanted this. We talked before the finals about how they've already made history qualifying for the tournament, let alone being in the finals. So the plan was to play loose, aggressive and with no pressure. They did just that!"
 
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