Women's Tennis Cruises Past Stetson, 6-1

Saturday, April 6

Jacksonville, Fla.

10 a.m.

University of North Florida

Stetson

Photo by: Todd Drexler

4/6/2013 3:26:00 PM | Women's Tennis

By: UNF Athletics

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The University of North Florida women's tennis team grabbed its seventh win in eight matches on Saturday afternoon, as it rolled to a 6-1 home win over Stetson.

"Today was a great match for us," Head Coach Audra Cohen said. "We showed heart and determination on every court and got the job done against a feisty Stetson team."

The Ospreys opened the day in perfect fashion, sweeping all three doubles matches to take the doubles point. Sophomores Marina Cunningham and Taylor Hollander rolled to an 8-1 victory at No. 3 in the only lopsided match of the day. After falling behind 4-2, seniors Lorena Aviles and Melanie Aguirre charged back to take an 8-6 victory at No. 1 that clinched the point.

Junior Simona Weymar and sophomore Rebeca Pereira completed the sweep with a 9-7 win at No. 2. The victory raised the duo's record to 7-0 this year.

Aguirre doubled the Ospreys' lead in short order, earning a 6-2, 6-3 win at No. 5 singles, just before Cunningham put UNF up 3-0 with a 6-1, 6-4 victory at No. 4. Aviles then clinched the match with a come-from-behind victory at No. 1 with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 win. The victory made the senior UNF's first 12-match winner this season, as her record now stands at 12-3, playing solely at the No. 1 position.

Stetson pulled a point back with a win at No. 2 singles, but freshman Mariella Calderon got a hard-fought win at No. 6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-7, (4-7), 6-4, and Hollander triumphed 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 6-2 at No. 3 to give the Ospreys the final 6-1 margin.

"We've worked very hard recently to improve our fitness and mental toughness and it showed today," Cohen said. "We won three of the four matches that went to three sets because we had great composure and fresh legs. The girls are finding confidence in their fitness and starting understand that hard work pays off in big moments."

With the win, the Ospreys move to 11-4 on the season, with a 4-1 mark in Atlantic Sun play. The Hatters are now 9-8, 4-3 in conference play.

UNF will be back in action on Sunday, when it wraps up its home season with a 10 a.m. match against Florida Gulf Coast. The Ospreys will recognize their seniors in a brief ceremony prior to the match. All UNF home tennis matches are free to the public, or follow along on Twitter at @OspreyWTEN.

Complete Results

North Florida 6, Stetson 1

Singles competition

1. Lorena Aviles (UNF) def. Sara Lazarevic (STET) 4-6, 6-3, 6-1

2. Diana Bukajeva (STET) def. Simona Weymar (UNF) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4

3. Taylor Hollander (UNF) def. Lindsey Cable (STET) 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 6-2

4. Marina Cunningham (UNF) def. Jen Miller (STET) 6-1, 6-4

5. Melanie Aguirre (UNF) def. Eveline Lepinay (STET) 6-2, 6-3

6. Mariella Calderon (UNF) def. MB StaufferMacDowell (STET) 7-6 (7-3), 6-7 (4-7), 6-4

Doubles competition

1. Lorena Aviles/Melanie Aguirre (UNF) def. Diana Bukajeva/Jen Miller (STET) 8-6

2. Simona Weymar/Rebeca Pereira (UNF) def. Sara Lazarevic/MB StaufferMacDowell (STET) 9-7

3. Marina Cunningham/Taylor Hollander (UNF) def. Lindsey Cable/Eveline Lepinay (STET) 8-1

Match Notes:

Stetson 9-8, 4-3 A-Sun

North Florida 11-4, 4-1 A-Sun