JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida women's tennis shut out South Carolina State in its opening match before dropping a 4-1 decision to No. 35 Florida State on Saturday at the UNF Tennis Courts.

In the opening match of the day, UNF opened with wins in the No. 2 and No. 3 doubles matches to take the point. Michelle Valdez and Hannah Fluhrer lost just one set to Oleksandra Filippova and Andejla Vasic in the No. 3 match before Luise Intert and Rafaela Gomez grabbed a 6-2 victory in the No. 2 spot for the Ospreys point.

Moving to singles with a 1-0 lead, freshman Rafaela Gomez had little trouble with Dakota Brown with a 6-3, 6-0 win in No. 5. Quetzali Vazquez then took down Vasic, 6-1, 6-1 in the No. 3 position, while doubles partner Noemi Hemmerich clinched the match with a 6-4, 6-0 victory over Intissar Rassif in the No. 1 match. 

"We played solid tennis and battled our nerves incredibly well," said head coach Audra Cohen. "We also did a great job tactically. We made our opponent play on our terms on every court."

In the afternoon match, North Florida grabbed the doubles point in an exciting tiebreaker in the No. 2 position. Intert and Gomez won 7-6 (5) after Florida State tied it. The No. 3 duo of Valdez and Fluhrer picked up the opening victory, 6-3. The 41st-ranked doubles team of Danieka Borthwick and Yukako Noi then tied it up with a 7-5 win against Vazquez and Hemmerich in the No. 1 position.

"I am very proud of how we came out in doubles," said Cohen. "We were fearless on all three courts and had great energy. Our two freshman stepped up quickly and were impressive under pressure."

The singles matches were in Florida State's favor from the beginning. The Seminoles grabbed victories in the matches 6, 1, 2 and 3, in that order to grab the win. Intert was winning her No. 4 singles match, 6-2, 5-1 when the match was called.

"In singles we started slow after an emotional doubles point and against a team of good singles players," added Cohen. "It was hard to get back in the match on some of the courts. Overall, I am very proud of how we competed today. We've improved mentally and physically and we have grown closer as a unit."

"I am very proud of how we came out in doubles," said Cohen. "We were fearless on all three courts and had great energy. Our two freshman stepped up quickly and were impressive under pressure."
North Florida stays at home for one more match when it hosts Flagler on Friday, Feb. 5 at 11 a.m. at the UNF Tennis Courts. The Ospreys then head out on a five-match road swing.

UNF vs. SCSU
Singles competition
1. Noemi Hemmerich (UNFW) def. RASSIF,Intissar (SCSUW) 6-4, 6-0
2. Michelle Valdez (UNFW) vs. FILIPPOVA,Oleksandra (SCSUW) 6-2, 5-1, unfinished
3. Quetzali Vazquez (UNFW) def. VASIC,Andejla (SCSUW) 6-1, 6-1
4. Luise Intert (UNFW) vs. MARCANIKOVA,Marketa (SCSUW) 6-2, 5-1, unfinished
5. Rafaela Gomez (UNFW) def. BROWN,Dakota (SCSUW) 6-3, 6-0
6. Mariella Calderon (UNFW) vs. ROCA,Claudia (SCSUW) 6-4, 2-1, unfinished

Doubles competition
1. Noemi Hemmerich/Quetzali Vazquez (UNFW) vs. RASSIF,Intissar/BROWN,Dakota (SCSUW) 4-2, unfinished
2. Luise Intert/Rafaela Gomez (UNFW) def. ROCA,Claudia/MARCANIKOVA,Marketa (SCSUW) 6-2
3. Michelle Valdez/Hannah Fluhrer (UNFW) def. FILIPPOVA,Oleksandra/VASIC,Andejla (SCSUW) 6-1

UNF vs. Florida State
Singles competition
1. Daneika Borthwick (FS) def. Noemi Hemmerich (UNFW) 6-0, 6-2
2. Gabriella Castaneda (FS) def. Michelle Valdez (UNFW) 6-2, 6-0
3. Yukako Noi (FS) def. Quetzali Vazquez (UNFW) 6-3, 6-2
4. Luise Intert (UNFW) vs. Julia Mikulski (FS) 6-4, 1-6, 3-0, unfinished
5. Rafaela Gomez (UNFW) vs. Lana Rush (FS) 6-4, 6-2, 0-1, unfinished
6. Ariana Rahmanparast (FS) def. Hannah Fluhrer (UNFW) 6-1, 6-1

Doubles competition
1. #41 Daneika Borthwick/Yukako Noi (FS) def. Noemi Hemmerich/Quetzali Vazquez (UNFW) 7-5
2. Luise Intert/Rafaela Gomez (UNFW) def. Lana Rush/Julia Mikulski (FS) 7-6 (10-5)
3. Michelle Valdez/Hannah Fluhrer (UNFW) def. Gabriella Castaneda/Ariana Rahmanparast (FS) 6-3