JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – UNF men's tennis (16-6, 7-1 ASUN) dominated in the ASUN Semifinals as it cruised by No. 73 Liberty (14-10, 7-1 ASUN) to advance to the ASUN Championship. With the 4-0 sweep, the Ospreys advance to the championship for the first time since 2019. That same season North Florida defeated the Flames in the semifinals during the tournament held in DeLand.
The Ospreys started off strong in doubles play as
Breno Marques and
Andreas Scott earned a 6-2 win on the third court. Despite
Jonas Hartenstein and
Rodrigo Crespo falling, 6-4,
PJ Kotan and
Bruno Vietri clinched the doubles point for the Ospreys with a 6-4 score.
With a 1-0 lead, the momentum did not stop for UNF as Vietri quickly earned a 6-1, 6-2 win.
Matt Carroll earned a win in two sets giving the Ospreys a 3-0 lead.
PJ Kotan clinched the win for the Ospreys in a remarkable three set win to advance UNF to the ASUN Championship. The remaining courts were left unfinished.
The Ospreys will face Florida Gulf Coast tomorrow, April 22 at 10 a.m. in the ASUN Championship match. The match will be streamed on ESPN+ and the winner of the match will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Thoughts on the win from Coach Lucas:
Singles competition
1.
Jonas Hartenstein (UNF) vs. Josh Wilson (LIBERTYM) 6-4, 3-6, 1-2, unfinished
2.
Rodrigo Crespo (UNF) vs. R. Marques Da Silva (LIBERTYM) 6-0, 6-7 (3-7), 2-1, unfinished
3.
Matt Carroll (UNF) def. Christiaan Worst (LIBERTYM) 6-4, 6-4
4.
Bruno Vietri (UNF) def. Deji Thomas-Smith (LIBERTYM) 6-1, 6-2
5.
PJ Kotan (UNF) def. Beau Pelletier (LIBERTYM) 6-2, 1-6, 6-1
6.
Breno Marques (UNF) vs. Thando Longwe-Smit (LIBERTYM) 6-3, 2-6, 5-1, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. Josh Wilson/Christiaan Worst (LIBERTYM) def.
Jonas Hartenstein/
Rodrigo Crespo (UNF) 6-4
2.
PJ Kotan/
Bruno Vietri (UNF) def. Luis Felipe Miguel/Deji Thomas-Smith (LIBERTYM) 6-4
3.
Breno Marques/
Andreas Scott (UNF) def. R. Marques Da Silva/Thando Longwe-Smit (LIBERTYM) 6-2
Match Notes:
Liberty 14-10, 7-1 ASUN; National ranking #73
North Florida 16-6, 7-1 ASUN
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (4,3,5)
Osprey Notes:
- UNF last advanced to the ASUN Championship in 2019 after defeating Liberty in the semifinals, 4-3
- Ospreys are now 2-2 in all-time matchups against Liberty
- Kotan has clinched the win for UNF four times this season, all of which were against conference opponents
- UNF faces FGCU in the championship which will be the 23rd time the teams have met in history, second time this season
