Close matches don't finish Ospreys' way

Wednesday, March 18

UNF Tennis Complex

2 p.m.

University of North Florida

Winthrop

Junior Ronnie Sang

3/18/2009 7:26:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Box Score

UNF fell 5-2 to Winthrop on Wednesday

By: Adam Jonson, UNF Athletics

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – In a tightly contested match at the UNF Tennis Complex Wednesday afternoon, the University of North Florida men's tennis team suffered a 5-2 loss to Winthrop in non-conference action with the outcome coming down to the final two scores returned.

The Ospreys (7-5, 2-2 Atlantic Sun) split the first two doubles results with the Eagles (5-6), and Winthrop secured the point by posting a 9-7 score in the No. 2 position. Junior Ronnie Sang and sophomore

Graham Edgar picked up the lone doubles win for UNF – a 9-7 decision at No. 3.

Edgar quickly evened the match when he gathered a 6-3, 6-3 No. 6 singles win. The Eagles turned in wins at the fourth and fifth positions to build a 3-1 lead with three results still pending. The Ospreys needed all three to capture the win.

Sang pulled UNF closer to a victory by using a 6-3, 7-5 score to notch a win in his No. 2 singles match. Freshman Marcos Chiaretti, playing in the third slot and senior Federico Levi, playing the top spot, each split sets and played long third sets.

Winthrop clinched the win with a win at the third position. Nadav Ruppin outlasted Chiaretti, who battled back for a 6-2 second-set win after dropping the first set 6-3. Chiaretti held a 5-2 lead in the third set before Ruppin rallied to take a 7-5 win.

With the outcome stamped, Levi trailed 5-0 in the third set of the final match to be decided. He began a furious comeback that concluded with the third set going to a tiebreaker. Levi evened the third set at 5-5 and then took a 6-5 lead before Roy Sichel pushed the match to a tiebreaker, where he emerged on top 7-3.

UNF returns to action Friday, resuming A-Sun action against Kennesaw State at 2 p.m. at the UNF Tennis Complex.