ORLANDO, Fla.—Michelle Valdez's win at No. 5 singles clinched the match for the University of North Florida women's tennis team with a 4-3 victory over UCF on Wednesday afternoon at the UCF Tennis Complex.
 
"We had impeccable composure today and it was impressive after a tough doubles point," said head coach Audra Cohen. "I'm especially impressed with how Michelle, Taylor and Simona stepped up and beat players they lost to two weeks ago. Michelle stepped up huge against a very tough opponent that was zoning late in the second set. She weathered the storm and got the job done."
 
The Ospreys stumbled early in doubles as UCF clinched the doubles point with wins at the No. 1 and No. 3 spot. At the No. 1 position, UCF's Courtney Griffith and Joesphine Haraldson defeated Simona Weymar and Rebeca Pereira 8-5.  Clare Mendell and Carolina Eberhart followed suit with a 8-6 win over Valdez and Quetzali Vazquez.
 
The Ospreys turned the tables with two quick singles wins. Marina Cunningham claimed the first singles victory with a 6-0, 6-1 win over Griffith at No. 2 singles. At the No. 4 position, Taylor Hollander defeated Sofia Baptista 6-4, 6-1 to put the Ospreys up 2-1. The Knights countered with a Mendell 6-4, 6-2 victory over Vazquez at No. 6 singles. Weymar defeated Haraldson 6-4, 6-3 at the No. 1 position to put the Ospreys up 3-2. UCF's Eberhart tied up the match with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Pereira at the No. 3 spot. 
 
Valdez' match was the deciding match. Valdez claimed the first set with a 6-1, but Courtney Cesarini forced a tiebreaker in the second-set after tying the set at 6-6.  Valdez was victorious in the tiebreak with a 7-5 win, clinching her match at the No. 5 spot and the match for the team.
 
The Ospreys return to action, on the road at No. 32 South Carolina on Feb. 21 at 6:30 p.m., at the Carolina Tennis Center.