JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – No. 72 University of North Florida men's tennis team defeated the defending Atlantic Sun Conference champions, No. 63 East Tennessee State, 5-2 on Friday afternoon at the UNF Tennis Complex in Jacksonville, Fla.

“This could not have been done without our strength and conditioning coach, Wes Brasseal and our athletic trainer Manny Andreoulakis,” said head coach Igal Buberman. “We rely on fitness and hard work so much that it is vital to have solid conditioning off the court as well as constant injury prevention. We are very happy with the results today. We don't take this as an achievement, but as another indication that we are headed in the right direction. We know what's coming up and we want to make sure we are ready every time we step on the court. Our players are doing a great job and are very committed to the program. They deserve this win.”

The Ospreys (6-3, 1-0 A-Sun) claimed the doubles point early with wins at the No. 2 and 3 matches over ETSU (4-5, 0-1 A-Sun). Sophomore Daniel Sotomarino paired up with senior Hleb Maslau at No. 2 to defeat Sander Gille and Jesus Bandres, 8-3. In the No. 3 sophomore Leonardo Nahar and freshman Pedro Davisson teamed up to claim an 8-4 win over Juan Ramirez and Robin Asker.

In singles action sophomore Mortiz Buerchner along with Sotomarino and Maslau battled to three sets in their respective matches before claiming the points for the Ospreys.

Buerchner took the first set from defending A-Sun Player of the Year, Gille in No. 1 with a score of 6-3, but Gille came back in the second with a 6-4 score. In the final set, Buerchner secure the point with a 6-2 win.

In the No. 2, Sotomarino squared off against Bandres and won the first set 6-4. In the second set, Bandres knotted the match with a 6-3 tally. Sotomarino claimed the point for the Ospreys with a 6-2 win in the final set.

Maslau fell behind in the No. 3 singles to Grega Teraz, 6-1. The UNF senior rallied back in the next two sets with scores of 6-1, 6-2.

The final point for the Ospreys came in the No. 6 singles where Nahar defeated Jorge Varon in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4.

UNF 5, ETSU 2

Singles
No. 1 Mortiz Buerchner (UNF) def. Sander Gille (ETSU) 6-3, 4-6, 6-2
No. 2 Daniel Sotomarino (UNF) def. Jesus Bandres (ETSU) 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
No. 3 Hleb Maslau (UNF) def. Grega Teraz (ETSU) 1-6, 6-1, 6-2
No. 4 Charles Bottoni (ETSU) def. Beauregard Treyz (UNF) 6-3, 6-1
No. 5 Juan Ramirez (ETSU) def. Pedro Davisson (UNF) 6-4, 6-2
No. 6 Leonardo Nahar (UNF) def. Jorge Varon (ETSU) 6-2, 6-4

Doubles
No. 1 Teraz/Bottoni (ETSU) def. Buerchner/Treyz (UNF) 8-6
No. 2 Sotomarino/Maslau (UNF) def. Gille/Bandres (ETSU) 8-3
No. 3 Nahar/Davisson (UNF) def. Ramirez/Robin Asker (ETSU) 8-4