Women's Tennis Battles at ITA Regional

Friday, October 21

Gainesville, Fla.

University of North Florida

ITA Regionals (Day 2)

Photo by: Todd Drexler

10/21/2016 10:38:00 PM | Women's Tennis

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - It was a tough day for North Florida women's tennis as it battled out on day two of the ITA Southeast Regional, but was unable to muster victories.

In doubles play, Michelle Valdez and Irina Karangozishvili faced a tall task against the No. 19 pair of Belinda Woolcock and Josie Kuhlman of Florida. The Gators took the opening round match, 8-4. Senior Quetzali Vazquez and junior Luise Intert paired up as well to take on Nina Nagode and Andrea Lazaro (FIU), but the Panthers won 8-5.

Sophomore Rafaela Gomez faced Nandini Das (Florida State) in the first round of singles play and lost 6-4, 6-1. Karangozishvili was tough against her opponent from Miami, Sarah Culbertson, and dropped a closely-fought opening set, 7-6 (3), but Culbertson used the first set momentum and shut out the Osprey in the second to advance. Valdez wrapped up singles play against Marta Gonzalez (Georgia). The Bulldog grabbed the 6-3, 6-1 win to move on.

The Osprey singles will now play in the backdraw on Saturday. Gomez plays Arianne de Winter from Georgia Southern, Karangozishvili will face Monica Matias of UCF, while Valdez takes on FIU's Gabriela Ferreira in the Round of 32.