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University of North Florida Athletics

Annabelle Davis Swings at the ball
Davis defeated her ranked opponent in three sets Saturday.
4
Winner Auburn University AUB (10-2)
3
North Florida UNF (5-4)
Winner
Auburn University AUB
(10-2)
4
Final
3
North Florida UNF
(5-4)

Match Recap: Women's Tennis |

Women’s Tennis Nearly Upsets No. 5 Auburn in Home Opener

Ospreys Narrowly Edged, 4-3, Loss Against Top Five Team

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida (5-4) nearly pulled off a record-win against a top-five team in the country, but was narrowly edged against No. 5 Auburn (10-2), 4-3, in the home opener. The Tigers got out to a 3-0 lead, but a resilient UNF team won three of the next four points, coming up just short of their second-ranked win in the program's DI era.

In doubles play, the Tigers came out strong by sweeping the third court, followed by winning 6-2 on the second court. With the point given to Auburn, the top slot was left unfinished.

Auburn continued its momentum by taking a 3-0 lead after two singles courts were finished in two sets. However, Kit Gulihur defeated No. 28 Ariana Arseneault in two sets at the top position to give UNF its first point of the match. Although Isabel Oliveria fell in three sets to give Auburn the clinch, Ana Paula Melilo won in three sets to bring UNF to two points. Annabelle Davis defeated No. 120 Kaitlyn Carnicella in three sets, ending in a 7-5 tiebreaker to bring UNF just shy of the match victory. 

The Ospreys are back on the road Wednesday, March 1 at 2 p.m. as they travel to Georgia Southern before returning home to host South Alabama Saturday, March 4. 

Post Match Notes From Coach Dunagan: 
"I'm proud of how we competed today. We're right there with some of the best teams in the country. Today shows us where we're at, and it makes us hungry to get better. I know we'll grow from these big matches and we'll keep getting stronger. Our team will respond in growth and get back to work for the next one." 

Singles competition
1. Kit Gulihur (UNF) def. #28 Ariana Arseneault (AUB) 6-3, 6-3
2. #48 Carolyn Ansari (AUB) def. Megan Forster (UNF) 6-3, 6-3
3. Annabelle Davis (UNF) def. #120 Kaitlyn Carnicella (AUB) 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5) 
4. DJ Bennett (AUB) def. Isabel Oliveira (UNF) 6-2, 2-6, 6-2
5. Ana Paula Melilo (UNF) def. Angella Okutoyi (AUB) 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
6. Adeline Flach (AUB) def. Kendall Nash (UNF) 6-1, 6-3

Doubles competition
1. #43 Kit Gulihur/Ana Paula Melilo (UNF) vs. #21 Carolyn Ansari/Ariana Arseneault (AUB) 3-5, unfinished 
2. Adeline Flach/Angella Okutoyi (AUB) def. Isabel Oliveira/Jasmin Makela (UNF) 6-2
3. Kaitlyn Carnicella/DJ Bennett (AUB) def. Kendall Nash/Megan Forster (UNF) 6-0

Match Notes:
Auburn University 10-2; National ranking #5
North Florida 5-4
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (6,2,1,4,5,3) 
T-3:16 
A-150

Osprey Notes: 
  • UNF has never scored more than a point against Auburn until today
  • The last ranked player Gulihur beat was No. 87 Margaux Maquet on March 5, 2022 
  • This is the highest ranked foe Gulihur has defeated
  • Gulihur gave Arseneault her third loss in 12 matches and her only loss to a non-ranked opponent
  • This was the third Power Five match of the season for the Ospreys 
  • No Power Five matchups remain on the schedule 
  • Five non-conference matches remain until conference play begins
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