Feb. 23, 2007

Complete Results

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The University of North Florida women's tennis team made a little history on Friday afternoon at the UNF Tennis Complex -- and it didn't take the Lady Ospreys very long to do so.

UNF blanked Mercer 7-0 in Atlantic Sun Conference tennis action to improve its record to 8-0 and tie the 1998 squad for the best start in school history.

The Lady Ospreys (3-0 in A-Sun play) swept doubles play and carried only two matches to three sets in singles. Vanessa Sanchez rallied from a one-set deficit to upend Mercer's Lauriane Auvergne, 2-6, 6-1, 10-3 at No. 1 singles, while Catalina Castillo came back from a first-set loss to knock off Mercer's Anna Wieslander, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 10-7, at the No. 2 position.

Florencia Torres (6-3, 6-1), Natalia Sanchez (6-0, 6-0), Ina Durcakova (6-2, 6-1) and Carolina de Melo (7-5, 6- 1) won in straight sets at the bottom four positions, respectively.

The Bears fell to 1-6 overall and 0-2 in A-Sun play.

"We are humbled by the fact that we were able to reach a record in UNF history," UNF head coach Igal Buberman said. "We have all been putting a lot into this, and it would be great if we can break it this weekend against a tough opponent like ETSU. Today was a good match for us, and we look forward to competing at a high level against a strong team on Sunday."

The Lady Ospreys will travel to Johnson City, Tenn., on Sunday to face off against defending conference champion ETSU in a battle of A-Sun hopefuls. The Lady Bucs are 3-6 overall but have not yet played a conference match. Match time is set for 10 a.m.