JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - UNF and Georgia Southern squared off for three hours and 45 minutes before Joe Ellis clinched it for the Ospreys (1-0) with a three-set tiebreaker in a 4-3 season-opening defeat of the Eagles (2-5) Saturday, Feb. 1.

Ellis trailed 5-3 before knotting things at 5-5. Opponent Jonathan Morales took the next point before Ellis evened it up again and won the tiebreaker, 7-3.

The decisive five-slot match mirrored the rest of the day as both teams traded punches throughout a damp afternoon. Georgia Southern won the doubles point, taking slots one and three. Diego Finkelstein and Alexandros Roumpis clinched the point against Ellis and freshman PJ Kotan, 6-4.

In his first career match at the one slot, Barton showed up with a 6-4, 6-2 defeat of Murphy McCullough, tying the match. Junior Nilo Duarte notched a first as well, taking down Finkelstein in his first career match at the two slot, 6-1, 7-5.

Sandwiched in between losses at the three and five slots, Kotan tallied his first dual win as an Osprey. The Australian upended, Valentin Dun, 6-4, 6-4. 

Ellis' ledger was 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7-3) as he finished just shy of 6 p.m.

Notes

• UNF improves to 8-1 against Georgia Southern and 5-0 against the Eagles in Jacksonville.
• The two teams last met in 2014.
• North Florida is 7-8 in season openers in the DI era.
• North Florida has never opened the year at home.
• It was sophomore midyear transfer Matt Carroll's first appearance as an Osprey.
• UNF is 3-0 in season openers under head coach Matt Lucas.
• It was Lucas and assistant coach Bart Van Leijsen's first win as a staff.
• Georgia Southern had defeated FGCU, 4-3, earlier this season. GSU fell to the ACC's Clemson, 3-4, this season.

Coach Lucas' Comments
"Wow, what a college tennis match that was! Credit to Georgia Southern as they were ready to play straight out of the gate. Being our first match of the season I knew there would be nerves, and it showed that they [GSU] have played six matches already. We were flat for the majority of doubles, but there was no panic from the lads. It was a strong statement that we came out with five first-set wins to put ourselves back in the match. With Dom, Nilo and PJ putting points on the board we were able to get some momentum."

On Joe Ellis' Match
"I'm really proud and happy for Joe getting the clinching victory for us today. It's been a long road back for him after taking a redshirt last season. I thought he handled the moment very maturely for being in his first match in over year. He stayed positive, in the moment, played with confidence and kept a clear mind. Something we have been stressing is our mental toughness, and Joe did an amazing job of that in the final set. We have quite a few things to clean up, but I'm proud of our positive attitudes today and that definitely carried us to the win - SWOOP!"
   
Singles Competition
1. Dominik Barton (UNF) def. Murphy McCullough (GS) 6-4, 6-2
2. Nilo Duarte (UNF) def. Diego Finkelstein (GS) 6-1, 7-5
3. Pascal Wagemaker (GS) def. Federico Nani (UNF) 6-1, 7-5
4. Alexandros Roumpis (GS) def. Matt Carroll (UNF) 3-6, 6-2, 6-3
5. Joe Ellis (UNF) def. Jonathan Morales (GS) 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7-3)
6. Patrick Kotan (UNF) def. Valentin Dun (GS) 6-4, 6-4
 
Doubles Competition
1. Murphy McCullough/Santiago Suarez (GS) def. Nilo Duarte/Federico Nani (UNF) 6-0
2. Dominik Barton/Matt Carroll (UNF) def. Jonathan Morales/Pascal Wagemaker (GS) 6-2
3. Diego Finkelstein/Alexandros Roumpis (GS) def. Joe Ellis/Patrick Kotan (UNF) 6-4

Match Notes
Georgia Southern 2-5
North Florida 1-0
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (1,2,3,6,4,5)
Official: Kendyl Jennings T-3:45 A-68