FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Appearing in the program's first NCAA DII Regional Final, the Nova Southeastern Sharks' (22-5) historic season came to an end on Tuesday at the NSU Tennis Complex at Rolling Hills, falling to strong national championship contender Lynn (24-0) in a 4-0 match that saw the Sharks battle for every point of both singles and doubles.
The Sharks appeared in their eighth NCAA Championships – the second time as hosts – and concluded a season that saw NSU match the program record for victories, a Sunshine State Runner-up finish and a new individual wins leader emerge (
Chantal Nosievici, 21).
Doubles
- The doubles match lasted more than an hour and was a nail-biter down to the final point.
- After Nova Southeastern fell behind 1-0 from a first-flight loss, the second and third flights remained neck-and-neck, but Federica Mordegan and Eliska Petrackova edged out junior Sarah Wardenburg and freshman Natalie Espinal with a 6-4 finish at No. 2 to grant Lynn the doubles point.
- Meanwhile, at No. 3, the Nosievici and freshman Diane Follin-Arbelet were tied at 5-all Giorgia Pigato and Eleonora Liga in the unfinished battle.
Singles
- Despite the hard-fought and emotional doubles fight, the Fighting Knights jumped out quickly in the singles, earning first-set victories across all flights.
- The Fighting Knights secured the three points necessary for the South Regional II title with wins in No. 1 (Leolia Jeanjean def. Ana Navas, 6-0, 6-0), No. 2 (Ulyana Grib def. Espinal, 6-1, 6-3) and No. 4 (Eleonora Liga def. Nosievici, 6-3, 6-1).
Direct from Coach Doug Neagle
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