MACON, Ga. - UNF men's tennis (5-0) reversed a 2-0 deficit en route to a 5-2 win at Mercer (3-9) Friday, Feb. 28, extending the Ospreys' winning streak to five to start the 2020 season. 

Come from behind three-set victories were the name of the game Friday, with UNF securing three singles points after being down one set at the first, third and fifth slots.

Nilo Duarte and PJ Kotan downed Carver Arant and Lucas Wayenburg at the three slot, but Mercer won 7-5 and 6-4 at slots one and two respectively to take the doubles point. 

Mercer went up 2-0 with a straight sets win at the four slot, but Jorge Nunez defeated Sachin Khurana, 7-5, 6-2, to get UNF on the board. Dominik Barton evened things up with a critical win at one singles, defeating familiar foe Hugo Lobo with a comeback three-set triumph. 

Tied 2-2, Federico Nani gave the Ospreys the lead for good with a 2-6, 7-5, 6-1 victory against Carver Avant at three singles. Nilo Duarte clinched it with a 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 win before PJ Kotan added one for good measure at five singles.
   
Singles Competition
1. Dominik Barton (UNF) def. Hugo Lobo (MER) 3-6, 6-4, 6-2
2. Nilo Duarte (UNF) def. Stathis Tsiranidis (MER) 6-3, 5-7, 6-2
3. Federico Nani (UNF) def. Carver Arant (MER) 2-6, 7-5, 6-1
4. Lucas Wayenburg (MER) def. Joe Ellis (UNF) 6-2, 6-3
5. Patrick Kotan (UNF) def. David Georgadze (MER) 4-6, 7-5, 6-2
6. Jorge Nunez (UNF) def. Sachin Khurana (MER) 7-5, 6-2

Doubles Competition
1. Olivier Stuart/Hugo Lobo (MER) def. Dominik Barton/Matt Carroll (UNF) 7-5
2. David Georgadze/Stathis Tsiranidis (MER) def. Federico Nani/Jorge Nunez (UNF) 6-4
3. Nilo Duarte/Patrick Kotan (UNF) def. Carver Arant/Lucas Wayenburg (MER) 6-4

Match Notes
UNF (5-0)
Mercer (3-9)

Coach Lucas' Comments
"We are happy to get out of there with a win. The conditions were tough and we didn't handle it well for most of the match. I'm proud of how we hung around and when there was an opportunity we seized it as evidenced by the decisive third set win for the guys. The guys have to come out with the same passion and energy from the beginning and not wait until we are way behind to get it going. I need more intensity and urgency from the guys as well as having them value every single point like it is match point. We will get to work next week preparing for three tough road matches next weekend. I'm happy we are 5-0, but the boys know we can be much better."

Other Notes

• UNF is 10-0 against Mercer all-time.
• Duarte and Nunez remain perfect in dual singles play this year.
• Joe Ellis suffered his first dual singles loss of the season.

Up Next
UNF goes to Charlotte March 6 to face the Charlotte 49ers.