Women's Tennis Opens Fall Slate at Bedford Cup

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – North Florida women's tennis begins its 2018-19 season with a trip to the Bedford Cup hosted by Miami where it faces some of Florida's best starting on Friday morning.

Florida schools competing at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center this weekend include: FGCU, Miami, UCF, USF, Florida A&M, Bethune Cookman, FAU, Stetson and FIU.

The Ospreys come off a successful 2017-18 campaign that saw them go 17-8 en route to a fourth straight ASUN Tournament championship. Third-year head coach Mariana Cobra looks to continue the program's success with a squad made up of five returners and two newcomers.

"We are excited to get our first collegiate fall tournament. We have worked hard on and off the court and we are excited to see the results," said Cobra. "We'll get to see some of the teams in our conference and around our state. We are expecting to compete hard and continue to improve each day."

Returners:
Leading the Ospreys are two seniors, Kinga Gartner and Rafaela Gomez. Gartner returns after competing in 17 matches and winning her second straight championship with the team. Gomez, a back-to-back ASUN All-Conference first team member, looks to continue her impressive career after coming off a season that saw her go undefeated in in ASUN doubles play, and 21-8 in singles.

As a freshman, Valentina Mariotto posted a 5-1 ASUN mark in the No. 5 spot, while classmate Florencia Rossi returns after recording a team-best 18-7 singles tally. Rossi also helped clinch the Ospreys fourth straight ASUN Tournament title.

Junior Lucia Montaño had a successful 2017-18 campaign, going 21-11 overall in singles and 18-7 in doubles. She was a key piece to helping UNF advance to the ASUN Championship match.

Newcomers:
Joining the Ospreys this year is Constanza Gorches, a junior transfer from Clemson and freshman Ana Paula Melilo. Gorches has valuable experience competing in the NCAA Championships where she defeated Washington's No. 2 doubles in the first round.

Melilo looks to make an impact for the Ospreys as the lone freshman on the squad. She boasts an impressive junior career which includes several national championships in both singles and doubles. She comes in with an ITF junior ranking of #341.

All Ospreys with the exception of Gomez and Montaño will compete in the Bedford Cup.

DRAWS
FRIDAY - 8 a.m.
Doubles #1
Melilo/Gorches vs. A. Hubeaut/H. Porter (FAMU)

Doubles #2
Rossi/Mariotto vs. Ruele/Romero (BCU)

FOLLOWING DOUBLES
Singles #1
Gartner vs. Phatismo Ruele (BCU)
Gorches vs. Natalia Boltinskaya (FAU)
Melilo vs. Kristen Thoms (FAU)

Singles #2
Rossi vs. Karen Romero (BCU)
Mariotto vs. Jemileth Aguilar (FAU)

LOOKING AHEAD
After the Bedford Cup, the Ospreys continue fall play Oct. 18-20 at the ITA Regionals in Atlanta.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Kinga Gartner

Rafaela Gomez

Constanza Gorches

Valentina Mariotto

Ana Paula Melilo

Florencia Rossi

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