JACKSONVILLE - After an hour-long rain delay, the North Florida women's tennis team battled hard to defeat FGCU, 4-2, in the 2021 ASUN Women's Tennis Championship. This marks the Osprey's sixth-straight conference title and ninth in program history. 

Catherine Gulihur and Valentina Mariotto picked up North Florida's lone doubles win of the day on court two. The pair downed Sofia Perez and Ida Ferding, 6-2. The Ospreys had the lead on courts one and three, but fell to FGCU in both slots. 

Summer Yardley and Annabelle Davis dropped the decision, 6-4, on court three. Lucia Montano and Constanza Gorches were edged, 7-5, by Maja Ornberg and Emma Bardet in the one slot. 

In singles, Montano tied the score, 1-1, after defeating Ornberg in the one slot in straight sets, 6-2, 6-1, earning a spot on the All-Tournament team. Gulihur followed close behind and downed Bardet 6-1, 6-4, on court two. The junior transfer was named Most Valuable Player after a strong first season with UNF.

The Eagles answered back to tie the match one last time with FGCU's Ferding winning 6-2, 6-3, against Yardley in the four slot. Freshman Davis helped the Ospreys take the lead once again, edging Perez 6-4, 7-5 on court five just before the rain delay. 

Both Mariotto and Gorches came back from deficits in their third sets. Gorches clinched the championship title for the Ospreys defeating Fanny Norin 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 in the three slot. 

North Florida earned an automatic bid to the NCAA DI Women's Tennis Tournament and awaits the NCAA Selection Show May 3. 

DUNAGAN'S DETAILS
"I'm just so proud of our team for fighting through the nerves, rain delay and adversity. We were up, came out after the rain delay and were down and just kept fighting and trusting in each other. I just couldn't be more proud of how we competed at the end." -- Head coach Catherine Dunagan.
  Singles Competition
1. Lucia Montano (UNF) def. ORNBERG, Maja (FGCU) 6-2, 6-1
2. Catherine Gulihur (UNF) def. BARDET, Emma (FGCU) 6-1, 6-4
3. Constanza Gorches (UNF) def. NORIN, Fanny (FGCU) 6-1, 4-6, 6-3
4. FERDING, Ida (FGCU) def. Summer Yardley (UNF) 6-2, 6-3
5. Annabelle Davis (UNF) def. PEREZ, Sofia (FGCU) 6-4, 7-5
6. Valentina Mariotto (UNF) vs. RETORTILLO, Alba (FGCU) 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 4-3, unfinished

Doubles Competition
1. BARDET, Emma/ORNBERG, Maja (FGCU) def. Constanza Gorches/Lucia Montano (UNF) 7-5
2. Catherine Gulihur/Valentina Mariotto (UNF) def. PEREZ, Sofia/FERDING, Ida (FGCU) 6-2
3. RETORTILLO, Alba/NORIN, Fanny (FGCU) def. Annabelle Davis/Summer Yardley (UNF) 6-4

Match Notes
#2S FGCU 8-7, 4-2 ASUN
#1S North Florida 17-7, 6-0 ASUN
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (1,2,4,5,3)
2021 ASUN Women's Tennis Championship Final
One hour rain delay
T-3:15