Women’s Tennis Dispatches Austin Peay in ASUN Home Opener

Sunday, March 19

Jacksonville, Fla.

10 a.m.

University of North Florida

Austin Peay

Paula Melilo was the first to finish in singles play Sunday.

Photo by: Brock Borgeson

3/19/2023 9:03:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score

Ospreys Snap Governors’ Seven-Match Winning Streak

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida women's tennis (9-6, 1-1 ASUN) put together a comprehensive team victory to snap Austin Peay's (10-4, 1-1 ASUN) seven-match winning streak in a 5-2 league-home opening win Sunday, March 19.

UNF 5, APSU 2
Sunday, March 19 | UNF Tennis Complex | Jacksonville, Fla.

How it Happened
UNF established control during the brisk-morning moments in doubles, clinching the initial point thanks to a 6-2 win at the top slot and a 6-4 victory at second doubles. Austin Peay got one of the courts to go in its favor at the third slot, but Isabel Oliveira and Kendall Nash teamed up to clinch the doubles point.

North Florida kept its foot on the pedal, winning at courts five, one and six to clinch the match and put the Ospreys up, 4-0. Ana Paula Melilo won her fifth singles dual of the year and Gulihur took home win number 13 in as many tries. Kendall Nash clinched the match at the sixth slot, getting tough with a seven-point tiebreaker in the first frame before cruising in the second session.

Megan Forster earned the first ASUN-singles dual victory of her career to add another point to UNF's tally at the second slot.

Singles competition
1. Kit Gulihur (UNF) def. LEDER, Jana (APSU) 7-5, 6-1
2. Megan Forster (UNF) def. TORREALBA, Denise (APSU) 6-4, 6-3
3. HEFTI, Melody (APSU) def. Annabelle Davis (UNF) 6-4, 4-6, 1-0 (10-2)
4. BARANOV, Sophia (APSU) def. Isabel Oliveira (UNF) 6-4, 0-6, 6-4
5. Ana Paula Melilo (UNF) def. CHENG, Yu-Hua (APSU) 6-2, 6-0
6. Kendall Nash (UNF) def. FONTANA, Asia (APSU) 7-6, 6-1

Doubles Competition
1. #78 Kit Gulihur/Ana Paula Melilo (UNF) def. HEFTI, Melody/LEDER, Jana (APSU) 6-2
2. Isabel Oliveira/Kendall Nash (UNF) def. TORREALBA, Denise/BARANOV, Sophia (APSU) 6-4
3. FONTANA, Asia/CHENG, Yu-Hua (APSU) def. Megan Forster/Jasmin Makela (UNF) 6-2

Match Notes
Austin Peay 10-4, 1-1 ASUN
North Florida 9-6, 1-1 ASUN
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (5,1,6,2,3,4)
Official: Kendyl Jennings T-3:02 A-61

Other Notes

UNF and Austin Peay met for the first time
North Florida improves to 3-2 at home on the year
UNF's last home conference match was April 10 against Central Arkansas
Gulihur has won 13-straight singles matches in singles and in doubles play with partner Ana Paula Melilo
UNF handed Austin Peay its first loss in eight matches
UNF is 46-29 in singles duals and 26-11 in doubles duals

Up Next
UNF hits the road to take on Kennesaw State Thursday, March 23 at 2 p.m.