SAINT LEO, Fla. – Facing the highest-ranked opponent of the year, the No. 6 Nova Southeastern Sharks (14-1, 3-1 SSC) saw their 14-match win streak snapped in a tight finish that came down to the final singles duel on Sunday at No. 3 Saint Leo's (11-2, 2-1 SSC) Tennis Center - the perfect start broken in a 4-3 finish. The match saw four finishes go to extras, with three tiebreakers in play.
The Sharks' streak fell just one shy of the 15 straight victories from 2015-16, but NSU is still working toward the best start since 2014-15, when NSU opened with 16 wins before their first loss – en route to an 18-3 record that season.
Doubles
- Although the Sharks fell behind one set to get things started in doubles, NSU's No. 2 pair of junior Daniela Obando and sophomore Chantal Nosievici worked out a 6-2 victory over Madeleine Gauthier and Nina Furmaniak to even things up.
- In the first flight, freshman Natalie Espinal and junior Sarah Wardenburg claimed the team doubles point after coming out on top at 6-4 in tiebreakers of the 7-6 win over Kristyna Jurkova and Andrea Ivanovic.
Singles
- The Sharks fought to remain on top early in singles play after Nosievici secured a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Gauthier in the fifth flight to stay up 2-1.
- The Lions pulled ahead on victories in the third and fourth flights, 3-2.
- No. 9 ranked freshman Natalie Espinal knotted things up in No. 1 singles, gutting out a three-set win in spite of a tiebreaker loss in the opening set, defeating Marta Vicens Miquel, 6-7, 6-2, 6-3 – tying the team score at 3-3.
- However, the Lions were able to come out ahead in No. 2 singles, as Jurkova topped Obando in three sets after the NSU junior forced extras – the 3-6, 6-4, 4-6 loss was the final decider of the match, as SLU closed the 4-3 victory.
- Two of NSU's singles losses went to three sets, including a first-set tiebreaker in No. 3 singles.
From Coach Doug Neagle
"Tough match against a very good third-ranked team in the nation, and we almost pulled it out on their courts," Neagle said. "Really proud of
Natalie Espinal today. She didn't feel her best and fought, and found a way to win.
Chantal Nosievici has been so solid for us as well and came up big again. We'll get back at it tomorrow."
Up Next: The Sharks remain on the road, traveling Monday for another Sunshine State Conference match at Tampa (8-3, 1-2 SSC) with a 3:00 p.m. start at UT's Naimoli and Young Tennis Complex.
