JACKSONVILLE - North Florida women's tennis earned a share of the ASUN Regular Season Championship and secured a two-seed in the upcoming league tournament. UNF faces off with third-seeded Lipscomb on Friday in the semifinals.
North Florida is the four-time defending ASUN Tournament Champions and has won seven of the last nine tournaments.
UNF (15-7) shares the title with ASUN newcomer Liberty who also finished with a 6-1 conference record.
It is the first regular season title for the Ospreys since 2016, but it is the third straight time that UNF has been a No. 2 seed in the tournament. The Ospreys have no trouble with that spot though as they have won back-to-back championships and automatic berths into the NCAA tournament.
OSPREY UPDATES
- On Wednesday,
Rafaela Gomez was named to the ASUN All-Conference first team for the third straight season. She also earned a nod to the All-Academic squad. Freshman
Ana Paula Melilo garnered second team and all-freshmen honors.
- With a doubles win, Gomez moves into the top 10 of the UNF record book. She currently has 61 in her four seasons.
- Sophomore
Constanza Gorches is currently riding an 11-match win streak and finished 7-0 in ASUN action.
- For the final weekly ASUN honor, Melilo earned the Player of the Week nod with her 3-0 week. She defeated Lipscomb and North Alabma in singles and picked up a doubles win with
Valentina Mariotto against the Bisons.
- Speaking of doubles, Melilo and Mariotto are currently 11-7 overall in doubles including a 9-1 mark in the No. 3 spot.
IN THE ASUN TOURNAMENT
- North Florida has seven total ASUN tournament titles (2010, 12-13, 15-18). UNF last won the ASUN tournament in DeLand in 2010, beating former ASUN school, ETSU.
- The Ospreys have made eight total finals appearances with the lone loss coming in 2011.
- UNF has not finished below second since 2011 when it was the No. 3 seed behind former ASUN member, Campbell
- In the 2018 tournament, UNF defeated Lipscomb 4-0 to advance to the championship match. In 2017, the Ospreys took down NJIT, 4-0.
- Lipscomb and UNF also faced off in the 2016 and 2015 semifinals with UNF taking the 4-0 win each time.
SCOUTING POTENTIAL OPPONENTS
- Lipscomb (16-5, 5-2 ASUN) is the No. 3 seed for the second straight season and blanked NJIT to advance to the semifinals in the same result as 2018.
- During the regular season, the Bison defeated NJIT in a weather-shortened match, 4-0.
- Vika Dzyuba is the two-time ASUN Player of the Year and finished the ASUN season with a 7-0 mark in the No. 1 position. She is 16-2 overall. In doubles, she pairs with Denise Buberl where the duo went 4-1 in the No. 1 position.
SERIES HISTORY
- North Florida has defeated Lipscomb in every meeting dating back to 2007.
