Boxscore
 
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – University of North Florida women's tennis captured four of the six singles matches in order to edge out UCF in a hard-fought battle on a cold and breezy afternoon at the UNF Tennis Complex.
 
"We did not play our best tennis today, but we got the job done," said head coach Audra Cohen. "We played very passive in doubles, but we got more aggressive in our singles matches."
 
UCF took a 1-0 lead in the match after claiming the doubles point. Cortney Cesarini and Monica Matias defeated Quetzali Vazquez and Esther Zuniga 6-2 at the No. 3 position in order to win the first doubles match. The Knights clinched the point after Carolina Eberhard and Kennan Johnson edged out Taylor Hollander and Marina Cunningham 6-4 at No. 1 doubles.
 
Five of the six singles matches were closely played with four of those going into three sets. Vazquez played a disciplined match on the No. 5 court and powered past Sofia Baptista 6-3, 6-0, which tied the team score at 1-1. Zuniga prevailed at No. 2 singles, taking down a challenging Cesarini 7-6 (4), 6-2 and UNF took a 2-1 advantage in the match. Cunningham put the Ospreys up 3-1 after holding for a 6-0, 3-6, 6-4 three-set triumph over Johnson at No. 3 singles. Michelle Valdez captured UNF's final team point, rallying for a 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 win against Clare Mendell at No. 4 singles.
 
UCF won the last two singles matches. After falling in the first set, Hollander fought back in the second set to force a decisive third-set against Eberhart at No. 1 singles, but Eberhart claimed the last set for a 6-0, 6-7 (1), 6-3 win. Meanwhile, Matias rallied for a 0-6, 6-1, 7-6 (5) win against Rebeca Pereira at the No. 6 spot.
 
UNF returns to action on Saturday when the Ospreys travel to Greenville, S.C., to face No. 20 South Carolina. Match time is set for 4:30 p.m., and will be played at Furman's Mickel Tennis Center.
 
Match Results
UNF 4, UCF 3
Singles Competition:
No. 1 – Caroline Eberhard (UCF) def. Taylor Hollander (UNF) 6-0, 6-7 (1), 6-3
No. 2 – Esther Zuniga (UNF) def. Cortney Cesarini (UCF) 7-6 (4), 6-2
No. 3 – Marina Cunningham (UNF) def. Kennan Johnson (UCF) 6-0, 3-6, 6-4
No. 4 – Michelle Valdez (UNF) def. Clare Mendell (UCF) 4-6, 6-1, 6-4
No. 5 – Quetzali Vazquez (UNF) def. Sofia Baptista (UCF) 6-3, 6-0
No. 6 – Monica Matias (UCF) def. Rebeca Pereira (UNF) 0-6, 6-1, 7-6 (5)
 
Doubles Competition:
No. 1 – Caroline Eberhart/Kennan Johnson (UCF) def. Taylor Hollander/Marina Cunningham (UNF) 6-4
No. 2 – Rebeca Pereira/Luise Intert (UNF) vs. Sofia Baptista/Clare Mendell (UCF) 5-5, unfinished
No. 3 – Cortney Cesarini/Monica Matias (UCF) def. Quetzali Vazquez/Esther Zuniga (UNF) 6-2
 
Order of Finish: Doubles (3, 1); Singles (5, 2, 3, 4, 1, 6)