JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Taking a one-match break from league action, the University of North Florida women's tennis team tore past Tennessee-Martin 7-0 at the UNF Tennis Complex on Monday and ran its home record to 7-0 this season.
"We moved the lineup a little bit and allowed the girls to see some variety," UNF head coach Rodrigo Puebla said. "I think it was good for them to play in a different position, and they all stepped up and got us a big win today."
Junior Raquel Castro played the top singles spot for the Lady Ospreys (8-2, 2-0 Atlantic Sun Conference) for the first time this season and put together a straight-set win against UTM's (4-4) Martie Wahl. Freshman Aline Berkenbrock notched a 6-2, 6-1 win at the No. 2 singles position. "After coming out flat in doubles, the girls turned it around and picked up their game," Puebla said. "Our desire wasn't there at first, but our intensity picked up and allowed us to have a good showing in singles."
Castro and Berkenbrock paired one of UNF's two 8-6 doubles wins at the No. 1 doubles position. Senior Ina Durcakova and freshman Nikita van Lierop recorded the same score in the second doubles slot while nationally-ranked No. 75 sophomore duo Lauren Holton and Victoria Krook posted an 8-3 win at the No. 3 doubles placement. Krook and Holton each sailed to straight-set wins in individual action, playing at the fifth and sixth positions, respectively. Durcakova was a 6-2, 6-4 winner at the third slot against Belisa De Brito.
In the closest match of the day, van Lierop needed three sets to get past Jodie Tilley. After taking the first match 6-1, she dropped the second 6-3 and took the third by the same score.
"We will have a challenging couple of conference matches this weekend," Puebla said. "But the girls will be ready to play and continue advancing toward our goal of winning the conference."
The Lady Ospreys hit the road and jump back into A-Sun play when they travel to Nashville, Tenn., this weekend to face Belmont and Lipscomb.
