JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – UNF women's tennis (17-6, 7-1 ASUN) had no problem securing a spot in the ASUN Championship as it defeated Liberty (17-9, 6-2 ASUN) in the semifinals Friday afternoon. The Ospreys swept Liberty, 4-0, allowing North Florida to advance to the championship in pursuit of its seventh title in eight years.
 
The Ospreys earned the doubles point as Kit Gulihur and Ana Paula Melilo won in a 6-1 victory, while Isabel Oliveira and Kendall Nash secured a 6-3 win.
 
UNF kept the lead going in singles play as Nash earned a 6-1, 6-1 victory to give UNF a 2-0 advantage. Jasmin Makela won in two sets as well to put the Ospreys just short of the win. Gulihur clinched the win for the Ospreys in a seven-point tiebreaker to finalize the sweep. The three remaining courts were left unfinished.
 
The Ospreys will face Stetson tomorrow, April 22 at 1 p.m. in the ASUN Championship, hosted on UNF's campus at the UNF Tennis Complex. 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 Dunagan:
"So proud of this team. We came out and showed a lot of confidence and trust in who we are. Started in doubles and we stayed focused to close it out in singles. We are ready for tomorrow. Cannot wait to compete for a championship."
 
Singles competition
1. #104 Kit Gulihur (UNF) def. M. Juliana P. Romero (LIBERTYW) 6-2, 7-6 (7-4)
2. Annabelle Davis (UNF) vs. Marina Davtyan (LIBERTYW) 6-3, 3-6, unfinished
3. Isabel Oliveira (UNF) vs. Esther Lovato (LIBERTYW) 5-7, 3-4, unfinished
4. Ana Paula Melilo (UNF) vs. Tiffany Nguyen (LIBERTYW) 6-4, 6-5, unfinished
5. Kendall Nash (UNF) def. Elsa Kirch (LIBERTYW) 6-1, 6-1
6. Jasmin Makela (UNF) def. Maretha Burger (LIBERTYW) 6-1, 6-3

Doubles competition
1. Kit Gulihur/Ana Paula Melilo (UNF) def. Tiffany Nguyen/M. Juliana P. Romero (LIBERTYW) 6-1
2. Isabel Oliveira/Kendall Nash (UNF) def. Maretha Burger/Bruna Sampaio (LIBERTYW) 6-3
3. Marina Davtyan/Esther Lovato (LIBERTYW) def. Annabelle Davis/Jasmin Makela (UNF) 6-0

Match Notes:
Liberty 17-9, 6-2 ASUN
North Florida 17-6, 7-1 ASUN
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (5,6,1)
 
Osprey Notes: 

• UNF last advanced to the ASUN Championship in 2021, where it defeated FGCU, 4-2
• Ospreys are now 2-1 in all-time matchups against Liberty
• Gulihur has clinched the win five times this season for UNF
• This will be the 29th matchup between the Hatters and the Ospreys in history, second time meeting this season