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University of North Florida Athletics

women's tennis preview graphic featuring action and posed shots of Catherine Gulihur and Furman and UCF logos

Preview: Women's Tennis Hosts Furman, On Road at UCF

3/9/2021 12:03:00 PM

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -  The North Florida women's tennis team hosts No. 24 Furman Wednesday before traveling to No. 18 UCF Saturday. 

Against Our Opponent
UNF splits the series 1-1 with Furman, dropping the last match, 2-5, March 6, 2017. UCF leads the series 7-6, blanking the Ospreys in the last meeting, 4-0, Feb. 4, 2018. 

Last Time Out
The Ospreys (7-4) are coming off wins against FAU Friday and South Alabama Sunday. 

Taking Inventory
  • Junior Ana Paula Melilo is 5-2 on court three, clinching the match for the Ospreys in three sets against FAU Friday. 
  • North Florida is 8-2 in the two slot in singles with Catherine Gulihur leading the way, 6-2. 
  • The Ospreys are .500 or above on all six courts. 
  • Gulihur and partner Ana Paula Melilo are 8-0, in the one slot in doubles. 
  • Constanza Gorches and Lucia Montano are 6-4 on court two in doubles. 
  • Montano was ranked 84th in the ITA Preseason Singles Rankings Jan. 13. and earned ASUN Player of the Week honors Feb. 3.
  • In 2020 North Florida went 10-1, with their only loss at No.24 Florida before the season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The Ospreys are the five-time defending ASUN Tournament Champions after downing FGCU, 4-3, in the title match in 2019.
  • North Florida's roster features eight returners and two newcomers. Freshman Annabelle Davis joins the squad this year along with junior transfer Catherine Gulihur from Oklahoma State. 
  • Head coach Catherine Dunagan enters her second season as the head coach at UNF. Assistant coach Ana Roman enters her second year with the Ospreys as well. 
No. 24 Furman
  • The Paladins (10-6) are coming off a 6-1 win at USF Monday.
  • Katarina Kozarov is 12-1 on court one in singles.
  • Julia Adams is 9-4 in the two slot in singles. 
  • Ranked No. 27 in ITA Preseason Doubles Rankings, Kozarov and Adams are 10-2 on court one in doubles.
  • Madison Dillon and MaryAnn Rompf are 8-2 in the two slot in doubles.
  • Head coach Adam Herendeen enters his sixth season with Furman. 
No. 18 UCF
  • The Knights (9-3) are coming off a 7-0 win against FAU Sunday.
  • UCF had four ranked ITA Preseason Singles: No. 42 Rebeka Stolmar, No. 67 Valeriya Zeleva, No. 72 Marie Mattel, T-95 Evgeniya Levashova.
  • Overall in Singles: Stolmar is 7-4, Zeleva is 7-2 , Mattel and Levashova are 5-2.
  • Two pairs were ranked in ITA Preseason Doubles: No. 6 Rebeka Stolmar and Marie Mattel, No. 60 Valeriya Zeleva and Ksenia Kuznetsova.
  • Zeleva and Kuznetsova are 8-1 in doubles, 7-0 in the two slot and 1-1 in the one slot.
  • Bryan Koniecko enters his fifth season with the Knights.
Home Match COVID-19 Protocols 
This season, due to UNF, ASUN and NCAA Covid-19 protocol, all spectators will be required to view tennis matches from outside the perimeter fencing at the UNF Tennis Complex. Sightlines will be limited by the windscreen that will remain in place on all fencing. All areas within the perimeter fencing including the areas between courts 1 and 2 as well as the tennis complex restrooms will be closed to spectators and maintained as a team only area due to social distancing requirements. Spectators will be able to access restrooms at Hodges Stadium during all tennis matches. Admission to all matches is free and masks are required while on the UNF Campus.
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