JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Freshman
Isabel Oliveira evaded two match points to force a tiebreaker and once again worked around an FIU (3-2) match point in the seven-point tiebreaker, but for the first time in a number of points the Panthers won consecutive points to take the match from the Ospreys, 4-3, Friday, Feb. 18.
The match lasted nearly four hours, with the final point coming down to an absolute battle on court four between Andreea Velcea and
Isabel Oliveira.
FIU 4, UNF 3
Friday, Feb. 18 | Jacksonville, Fla. | UNF Tennis Complex
How it Happened
North Florida (3-5) was all over FIU from the beginning in the doubles point, winning at slots three and one to take a 1-0 advantage.
The Panthers got in front thanks to a pair of two-set wins at slots two and three. No. 56
Kit Gulihur downed another ranked player to even things, 2-2. Freshman
Anslee Long got tough late, winning two sets by a 7-5 score respectively, bringing UNF to a 3-2 lead.
Despite a one-set lead by
Sean Lodzki, FIU's Basak Akbas won the following two frames as things got evened up, 3-3.
With all eyes on court four, the drama ensued. Down 40-30 and 5-4 for the set, Oliveira rallied, won the set and eventually pushed things to a tiebreaker. Neither player won consecutive points as the tiebreaker came to 6-6. FIU won the next two to claim the match.
Singles competition
1. #56
Kit Gulihur (UNF) def. #104 Yasmine Kabbaj (FIU) 7-6 (7-5), 6-3
2. Kamila Umarova (FIU) def.
Summer Yardley (UNF) 6-2, 6-4
3. Andjela Skrobonja (FIU) def.
Annabelle Davis (UNF) 6-3, 6-4
4. Andreea Velcea (FIU) def.
Isabel Oliveira (UNF) 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (8-6)
5.
Anslee Long (UNF) def. Ines Bekrar (FIU) 7-5, 7-5
6. Basak Akbas (FIU) def.
Sean Lodzki (UNF) 2-6, 6-2, 6-2
Doubles Competition
1. #5
Kit Gulihur/
Ana Paula Melilo (UNF) def. Basak Akbas/Andjela Skrobonja (FIU) 6-3
2.
Anslee Long/
Isabel Oliveira (UNF) vs. Kamila Umarova/Ines Bekrar (FIU) 4-4, unfinished
3.
Summer Yardley/
Kendall Nash (UNF) def. Andreea Velcea/Kristina Miletic (FIU) 6-2
Match Notes
FIU 3-2
North Florida 3-5
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (2,3,1,5,6,4)
Official: Kendyl Jennings T-3:49 A-130
Other Notes
- North Florida is still looking for its first win against FIU in series history.
- North Florida is 1-1 at home on the season.
- The march lasted nearly four hours.
- Light rain arrived towards the end of the match.
Up Next
We'll complete the weekend at home against Georgia Southern Sunday at 10 a.m.
