Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

University of North Florida Athletics

Nilo Duarte hits a two-hand backhand.
Todd Drexler
4
Winner North Florida UNF-M (5-8 (1-1 ASUN))
3
Kennesaw State KSUM (4-10 (0-2 ASUN))
Winner
North Florida UNF-M
(5-8 (1-1 ASUN))
4
Final
3
Kennesaw State KSUM
(4-10 (0-2 ASUN))

Match Recap: Men's Tennis |

Men’s Tennis Outlasts Kennesaw State in Marathon Match, 4-3

Four Hour-Plus Match Concludes With Duarte Clinching it at Two Singles

KENNESAW, Ga. - After over four hours of play, UNF men's tennis emerged on the other side of a road battle at Kennesaw State (4-10, 0-2 ASUN) with a 4-3 road victory thanks to a hot start to singles play and Nilo Duarte's three-set match clinching win at second singles Saturday, March 27.

With the match tied 3-3 and Duarte even with Sergio Ingles, 5-5 in the third, Duarte claimed the next two games to give North Florida (5-8, 1-1 ASUN) the win.

How it Happened
UNF established an early lead at all three doubles slots before KSU got momentum and took court three, 6-3. Federico Nani and Jorge Nunez continued their hot streak, evening up doubles with a 6-4 triumph at the second slot. The Owls won 6-4 at the top slot to clinch the opening point.

North Florida turned the tables in singles. PJ Kotan turned in his fourth win in a row, claiming a 6-2, 6-1, win at the five slot. Joe Ellis was just behind Kotan, giving UNF the lead thanks to a 6-4, 6-3 victory at six singles. 

No. 116 Dominik Barton improved to 7-6 at one singles by upending Sebastian Osorio, 6-2, 6-4. With the 3-1 lead in hand, the Owls evened the match up, 3-3. KSU worked a 7-6 (7-3), 6-3, win at third singles, while Rodrigo Crespo was edged in a battle against Kevin Patel, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 3-6.

Duarte's decisive match was the second singles court to go three sets. The Barcelona, Spain, native won the opening frame, lost a 7-6 tiebreaker and finished it with a 7-5 win in set three.
 
UNF 4, KSU 3
Saturday, March 27 | Betty Siegel Courts | Kennesaw, Ga.

Singles Competition
1. Dominik Barton (UNF-M) def. Sebastian Osorio (KSUM) 6-2, 6-4
2. Nilo Duarte (UNF-M) def. Sergio Ingles (KSUM) 6-4, 6-7 (4-7), 7-5
3. Raul Garcia (KSUM) def. Matt Carroll (UNF-M) 7-6 (7-3), 6-3
4. Kevin Patel (KSUM) def. Rodrigo Crespo (UNF-M) 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 6-3
5. Patrick Kotan (UNF-M) def. Seru Tezuka (KSUM) 6-2, 6-1
6. Joe Ellis (UNF-M) def. Harvey Conway (KSUM) 6-4, 6-3

Doubles Competition
1. Sergio Ingles/Seru Tezuka (KSUM) def. Dominik Barton/Matt Carroll (UNF-M) 6-4
2. Jorge Nunez/Federico Nani (UNF-M) def. Harvey Conway/Raul Garcia (KSUM) 6-4
3. Sebastian Osorio/Kevin Patel (KSUM) def. Rodrigo Crespo/Nilo Duarte (UNF-M) 6-3

Match Notes
North Florida 5-8 (1-1 ASUN)
Kennesaw State 4-10 (0-2 ASUN)
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (5,6,1,3,4,2)
T-4:15

Other Notes
  • Nani and Nunez have won five doubles matches in a row. 
  • The Ospreys have an 18-16 overall dual doubles record. Nani and Nunez are 5-1 as a pair.
  • Barton is 7-6 at one singles and on a four-match winning streak.
  • Kotan is 5-5 in singles play and on a four-match winning streak.
  • UNF remains undefeated against Kennesaw State.
  • This is the second time UNF has won a match this season after falling in doubles.
  • The match started one hour and 15 minutes after its originally planned time to allow for the courts to dry.
Coach Lucas' Comments
"What an up and down college dual match. There were so many momentum shifts, it was crazy. We started great in doubles and again let that slip away which is disappointing. Once singles started, all six courts did a great job of regaining the momentum. At one point we were up four first sets and in tiebreakers on the other two. 

I'm really happy with the way Patrick and Joey gave us a big push with two quick no-nonsense wins. Dom followed with the third point and that's when it got wild! 

Nilo put himself in a winning position in the second set and wasn't able to close it out. After losing that second set and having multiple team match points it would have been really easy for him to go away in that third. Honestly, two years ago he would have, but he's matured and gotten stronger mentally and I honestly believe that allowed him to play some quality tennis in the final set. I'm proud of how his fitness held up as well as it did, as the other guy was physically feeling it. We're happy to get the W and we did it TOGETHER today.

We still haven't come close to our highest level, but we are trending towards that and now we try and get one day better tomorrow in preparation for a big ASUN-home weekend. Swoop!"

Up Next
UNF hosts Stetson Thursday. First serve is set for 3 p.m.
 
Print Friendly Version