Ospreys Outshine Mizzou Under the Lights

Sunday, February 27

Jacksonville, Fla.

5 p.m.

University of North Florida

Missouri

Photo by: Brock Borgeson

2/27/2022 11:03:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score

North Florida Women’s Tennis Picks Up Second SEC Win in Less Than 12 Months

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - After adapting to a date and time change for a match originally scheduled for Monday, Feb. 28, North Florida women's tennis (5-6) centered its sights on Missouri and outshone the Tigers (5-8) under the lights in a 4-1 win against Mizzou Sunday, Feb. 27.

The UNF youth came through in the program's sixth-ever win against a Power Five team, with freshman Isabel Oliveira and Anslee Long combining to earn three of UNF's four points.

Sophomore and reigning ASUN Freshman of the Year, Annabelle Davis, earned UNF's other victory, sweeping Elys Ventura at the third slot.

It was UNF's second win against a Southeastern Conference (SEC) in less than a year after taking down No. 25 Ole Miss in the NCAA Championship First Round back in May.

UNF 4, Missouri 1
Sunday, Feb. 27 | Jacksonville, Fla. | UNF Tennis Complex

How it Happened
No. 13 Kit Gulihur and Ana Paula Melilo dominated Missouri at one doubles, sweeping the Tigers, 6-0. It looked as if the point was all but decided just minutes later, but Missouri came back from a 5-0 deficit to force a tiebreaker at second doubles. Oliveira and Long came through in the tiebreaker, ousting Mizzou, 7-6 (7-3).

The Tigers got their only point, winning at the sixth singles slot to tie the match up. Davis was right behind that match, winning 6-4, 6-2 to give the Ospreys the lead for good.

AB takes home the win at court 3!#SWOOPLife pic.twitter.com/nGUhgoHsTU
— UNF Women's Tennis (@OspreyWTEN) February 28, 2022

Long won a key tiebreaker in the first set before sweeping Gabriela Martinez in the second, giving UNF a 3-1 advantage. Classmate, Oliveira, clinched the match, earning a 6-4, 6-4 win.

Courts one and two remained unfinished.

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We take down Mizzou, 4??-1????@ITA_Tennis x #SWOOPLife pic.twitter.com/QvqoyZZ1yL
— UNF Women's Tennis (@OspreyWTEN) February 28, 2022

Singles competition
1. #66 Kit Gulihur (UNF) vs. Bronte Murgett (MIZ) 6-4, 4-6, 2-2, unfinished
2. Summer Yardley (UNF) vs. Ellie Wright (MIZ) 3-6, 6-1, 4-1, unfinished
3. Annabelle Davis (UNF) def. Elys Ventura (MIZ) 6-4, 6-2
4. Isabel Oliveira (UNF) def. Emelie Schwarte (MIZ) 6-4, 6-4
5. Anslee Long (UNF) def. Gabriela Martinez (MIZ) 7-6 (7-1), 6-0
6. Valentina Vazquez (MIZ) def. Kendall Nash (UNF) 6-3, 6-1

Doubles Competition
1. #13 Ana Paula Melilo/Kit Gulihur (UNF) def. Bronte Murgett/Gabriela Martinez (MIZ) 6-0
2. Anslee Long/Isabel Oliveira (UNF) def. Elys Ventura/Emelie Schwarte (MIZ) 7-6 (7-3)
3. Ellie Wright/Romary Cardenas (MIZ) def. Summer Yardley/Kendall Nash (UNF) 6-4

Match Notes

Mizzou 5-8
North Florida 5-6
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (6,3,5,4)
Match rescheduled from Monday, Feb. 28
T-2:40 A-55
Match began at 5:45 p.m.

Coach Dunagan's Comments

.@CoachDunagan following a 4-1 win against Mizzou Sunday night! #SWOOPLife pic.twitter.com/4IcPXlXWW7
— UNF Women's Tennis (@OspreyWTEN) February 28, 2022

Other Notes

UNF's six Power Five wins in program history have come against Ole Miss, Missouri, Iowa State (twice), West Virginia and Penn State.
The Ospreys have earned Power Five wins against teams from the SEC, Big 12 and Big 10.
North Florida has won two matches against SEC teams in the last nine months, last winning against No. 25 Ole Miss in the NCAA Championship First Round.
It was UNF's fifth match of the year against a Power Five opponent.

Up Next
North Florida goes to No. 38 Charlotte Saturday, March 5. First serve is at 11 a.m.