@OspreyWTEN Emerges with 4-3 Victory at USF

Saturday, March 7

Tampa, Fla.

11:00 a.m.

University of North Florida

USF

Photo by: Todd Drexler

3/7/2015 3:30:00 PM | Women's Tennis

By: North Florida Athletics

Boxscore

TAMPA, Fla. – Michelle Valdez's victory at No. 4 singles sealed the 4-3 win for University of North Florida women's tennis over USF on Saturday at the USF Varsity Tennis Courts, allowing the Ospreys to avenge an earlier spring season loss to the Bulls.

"We won this match not by playing our best tennis, but by playing tough," said head coach Audra Cohen. "The crowd was taunting and trying to get in our head, but we stayed tough and focused on things that we could control. This was definitely a mental win over a physical win. Our improved mentality is paying off in the results."

UNF took a 1-0 lead in the match after capturing the doubles point. Esther Zuniga and Quetzali Vazquez had the day's first doubles victory with a 6-2 triumph on the No. 3 court over Hailey Grillo and Laura Argente. Taylor Hollander and Marina Cunningham clinched the doubles point with a 6-3 victory over Jessica Cortes Chaves and Julianna Cardoso at No. 1 doubles.

The Ospreys stormed out to a 3-0 lead by winning the first two completed singles matches. Vazquez shutout Grillo for a straight-set 6-0, 6-0 victory at No. 5 singles. Zuniga gave UNF the three-point advantage in the match with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Olga Martinez at the No. 2 spot.

"Esther played really well today and took down the heart of their team easily," said Cohen. "That lead the way for us and helped us get the win."

USF attempted to come back by taking the next two singles matches. Cortes Chaves took a 6-3, 6-1 win against Cunningham at No. 3 singles. The Bulls cut UNF's lead down to one after Vera Bessonova defeated Hollander 6-1, 6-2 at the No. 1 position.

With UNF up 3-2 in the match, Valdez held on for a 6-3, 7-5 match-winning victory over Cardoso on the No. 4 court.

The match finished with Argente defeating Luise Intert in a close three-set 7-6 (6), 1-6, 10-8 No. 6 singles contest.

UNF returns to action on Sunday against Jackson State. Match time is set for 10 a.m., at the UNF Tennis Complex. Admission is free to all UNF home matches.

Match Results
North Florida 4, USF 3
Singles Competition:
No. 1 – Vera Bessonova (USF) def. Taylor Hollander (UNF) 6-1, 6-2
No. 2 – Esther Zuniga (UNF) def. Olga Martinez (USF) 6-1, 6-1
No. 3 – Jessica Cortes Chaves (USF) def. Marina Cunningham (UNF) 6-3, 6-1
No. 4 – Michelle Valdez (UNF) def. Juliana Cardoso (USF) 6-3, 7-5
No. 5 – Quetzali Vazquez (UNF) def. Hailey Grillo (USF) 6-0, 6-0
No. 6 – Laura Argente (USF) def. Luise Intert (UNF) 7-6 (6), 1-6, 10-8

Doubles Competition:
No. 1 – Taylor Hollander/Marina Cunningham (UNF) def. Jessica Cortes Chaves/Juliana Cardoso (USF) 6-3
No. 2 – Luise Intert/Rebeca Pereira (UNF) vs. Vera Bessonova/Olga Martinez (USF) 3-4, unfinished
No. 3 – Esther Zuniga/Quetzali Vazquez (UNF) def. Hailey Grillo/Laura Argente (USF) 6-2

Order of Finish: Doubles (3, 1); Singles (5, 2, 3, 1, 4, 6)