Box Score
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The opening weekend of the spring season concluded with the Ospreys earning third place in a competitive eight-team field at the FSU Invite. UNF (2-1) won three singles matches and took two of three in doubles to down UAB (1-2), 4-1.

"Overall, two quality wins and a tight defeat to a very good FAU team [yesterday]," head coach Matt Lucas said. "We have a ways to go but there were some encouraging signs for our first matches of the spring."

UNF 4, UAB 1 (Third Place Match)
Singles Competition
1. Roman Postolka (UAB) vs. Till Von Winning (UNF) 6-4, 4-3, unfinished
2. Sahil Deshmukh (UNF) def. Michal Lusovsky (UAB) 3-6, 6-1, 6-3
3. Dominik Barton (UNF) def. Fernando Vargas (UAB) 6-1, 6-1
4. Daniel Janko (UAB) def. Nilo Duarte (UNF) 6-3, 7-6 (7-3)
5. Jorge Nunez (UNF) def. Tom el Safadi (UAB) 6-3, 6-2
6. Giovani Pasini (UAB) vs. Federico Nani (UNF) 6-7, 3-4, unfinished

Doubles Competition
1. Jorge Nunez/Sahil Deshmukh (UNF) def. Michal Lusovsky/Daniel Janko (UAB) 6-4
2. Till Von Winning/Nilo Duarte (UNF) def. Tom el Safadi/Giovani Pasini (UAB) 6-2
3. Nikolai Manchev/Roman Postolka (UAB) vs. Dominik Barton/Federico Nani (UNF) 4-2, unfinished

Sahil Deshmukh got the Ospreys their first win, roaring back after faltering 3-6 in the first set to defeat Michal Lusovsky thanks to 6-1, 6-3 triumphs in the following two sets. Freshman Dominik Barton stayed spotless in the third spot on the weekend, turning in two 6-1 sets to sweep Fernando Vargas. "I was really impressed with Dominik considering it was his first-ever dual match environment," Lucas said. "That's a good sign for us looking forward."

UAB's Daniel Janko got the Blazers their lone win in the fourth spot, although Jorge Nunez got the best of Tom el Safadi, 6-3, 6-2, giving the Denver transfer his second singles win of the invite.

Nunez teamed up with Deshmukh to edge Luvosky/Janko in number one doubles, 6-4, while teammates Till Von Winning and Nilo Duarte quickly dispatched UAB in number two doubles, 6-2.

"Much better doubles from the guys today," Lucas said. "We made it a priority to be the aggressors and for the most part we were," Lucas said. "That's who we have to be on the doubles court, so that is encouraging. I thought Jorge and Dominik really set the tone with comprehensive wins, and it was nice for the birthday boy and captain, Sahil, to come through with the clincher."

Other Notes:

• UNF is 2-1 all-time against UAB.
• The Ospreys went 1-2 at the same invite last January.
• Barton went 3-0 in his first-ever dual match competition, not dropping a single set.

"We have a nice little break here where we will really get specific on improving the deficiencies I saw over the weekend," Lucas said. "It's going to be a fun season with this group, and I'm excited for what this team can accomplish."

The ITF Weston Futures (Jan. 19-23) and the ITF Palm Coast Futures (Jan. 26-30) await prior to the first head-to-head match of the year, a 1:00 p.m. match at UNC-Wilmington Feb. 1.