Women’s Tennis Sweeps Season-Opening Doubleheader

Saturday, January 19

Jacksonville, Fla.

10:00 a.m.

University of North Florida

Georgia Southern

Valentina Marriotto looks on at the ball before hitting a two-handed backhand.

Mariotto picked up two singles wins and one in doubles Saturday.

1/19/2019 6:17:00 PM | Women's Tennis

011919 Georgia Southern 011919 FAMU

Ospreys Top Georgia Southern and FAMU With Pair of 4-0 Wins

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The North Florida women's tennis program couldn't have asked for a better result Saturday, downing Georgia Southern (1-2) and Florida A&M (0-1) with a pair of 4-0 wins in the season-opening home doubleheader January 19 at the UNF Tennis Complex.

Six different Ospreys picked up singles victories and three different doubles pairs added wins for the Navy and Gray.

"It's expected for our girls to have some nerves in the opening match of the year, but I believe that they did a great job maintaining focus today," head coach Mariana Cobra said. "I thought that we were able to apply what we have worked on as a team and I'm looking forward to see us grow from here."

UNF 4, Georgia Southern 0
Doubles
1) Rafaela Gomez/Constanza Gorches (UNF) def. Arianna De Winter/Emilia Bujan (GSW) 6-4
2) Paula Boixader/Mila Hartig (GSW) def. Ana Paula Melilo/Valentina Mariotto (UNF) 6-2
3) Lucia Montano/Florencia Rossi (UNF) def. Paige Christian/Hanna Daniel (GSW) 6-4

Singles
1. Rafaela Gomez (UNF) def. Arianne De Winter (GSW) 6-2, 6-2
2. Lucia Montano (UNF) vs. Paula Boixader (GSW) 7-5, 4-1, unfinished
3. Constanza Gorches (UNF) vs. Emilia Bujan (GSW) 1-6, 3-4, unfinished
4. Ana Paula Melilo (UNF) def. Mila Hartig (GSW) 6-4, 6-2
5. Sean Lodzki (UNF) vs. Elizabeth Goines (GSW) 6-2, 5-5, unfinished
6. Valentina Mariotto (UNF) def. Luisa Hrda (GSW) 6-2, 6-1

Gomez and Gorches got tough in number one doubles to earn a 6-4 win, although Georgia Southern responded with a strong victory at the number two spot. With the first point riding on Montano and Rossi, the duo rallied back from a 4-2 deficit with four unanswered points to clinch doubles with a 6-4 triumph.

The momentum carried into singles play as the Ospreys needed three matches for the 4-0 win, taking number one, four and six singles.

UNF 4, FAMU 0
Doubles
1. Constanza Gorches/Rafaela Gomez (UNF) def. Machisa,Karen/Rakotondrazafy,Miali (FAMUW) 6-1
2. Sean Lodzki/Lucia Montano (UNF) vs. Porter,Haleigh/Hubeaurt,Aylen (FAMUW) 4-3, unfinished
3. Florencia Rossi/Valentina Mariotto (UNF) def. Harden,Rachel/Osabuohien,Sophia (FAMUW) 6-0

Singles
1. Rafaela Gomez (UNF) vs. RAKOTONDRAZAFY,Miali (FAMUW) 7-5, 0-0, unfinished
2. Lucia Montano (UNF) def. PORTER,Haleigh (FAMUW) 6-1, 6-0
3. Constanza Gorches (UNF) vs. HUBEAURT,Aylen (FAMUW) 6-2, 3-0, unfinished
4. Sean Lodzki (UNF) vs. HARDEN,Rachel (FAMUW) 6-2, 5-0, unfinished
5. Valentina Mariotto (UNF) def. OSABUOHIEN,Sophia (FAMUW) 6-1, 6-0
6. Florencia Rossi (UNF) def. MACHISA,Karen (FAMUW) 6-1, 6-0

Gomez and Gorches rolled to a win in doubles as head coach Mariana Cobra and staff mixed up the lineup at number two and three doubles. Mariotto and Rossi put up the clinching win in number three doubles. Lodzki and Montano's first match together was left unfinished at 4-3.

Montano, Mariotto and Rossi turned in 6-1, 6-0 wins respectively to finish the match, 4-0. Lodzki was just a game short of her first singles win at UNF before it was cut short with her in the lead, 6-2, 5-0.

Notes:

UNF improved to 13-0 all-time against Georgia Southern.
The Ospreys are 8-0 against FAMU in series history.
North Florida hasn't lost a season opener since falling to No. 13 Miami (4-0), Jan. 24, 2015.
UNF hasn't lost a home opener since dropping an 8-1 decision to Flagler February 17, 2001.

Up Next:
The women continue play at home when they host Georgia State Friday, February 1, at 5:00 p.m.