JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Kennesaw State women's tennis team clinched a 4-3 Atlantic Sun Conference win over North Florida Wednesday afternoon. With the victory, the Owls gained their first win in series history against the Ospreys.
 
"There was no chance that match was going to be easy at the end…not against the defending champs, not on the road, and not against a program we had never beaten," said Matt Emery, KSU Director of Tennis. "Today's match was always going to come down to the wire, and the women were ready for the battle. Sophia has been an absolute rock her entire career in these situations, and she was just tremendous closing that match out today."
 
How It Happened
The Owls started off securing the doubles point to give them a strong start. Sofia Madrid/Izabelle Persson (KSUW) defeated Anslee Long/ Kendall Nash (UNF) 6-1. Sophia Unger/Ivana Gresova (KSUW) wrapped up business on court three defeating Jasmine Makela/ Sofia Snitko (UNF) 6-1.
 
Singles play boiled down to a tight competition between the two teams leading to a 3-3 tie with one point remaining. Sofia Madrid (KSUW) claimed the second point for the Owls defeating Kendall Nash (UNF) 6-3. Ema Baraniakova (KSUW) obtained the third point for Kennesaw State, dominating Sofia Snitko (UNF) 6-0, 6-4. The last match point came down to Sophia Unger (KSUW) on court four, defeating Anslee Long (UNF) 6-2, 5-7, 6-2.
 
"It took all 9 girls to get that win today. We had to forget the score and just grit it out, be tougher than our opponents in those crucial moments and give it absolutely everything we had," said Taylor Dean. "This victory is special for every single one of us, and we couldn't be happier. Just like our coaches said, nobody beats the Owls 18 times in a row!"
 
Kennesaw State 4, North Florida 3
 
Singles Competition:
Amy Kaplan (UNF) def. Taylor Dean (KSUW) 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
Ema Baraniakova (KSUW) def. Sofia Snitko (UNF) 6-0, 6-4
Sofia Madrid (KSUW) def. Kendall Nash (UNF) 6-3 
Sophia Unger (KSUW) def. Anslee Long (UNF) 6-2, 5-7, 6-2
Alisa Lyshko (UNF) def. Izabelle Persson (KSUW) 6-4, 2-6, 6-4
Jasmin Makela (UNF) def. Laura Nadaska (KSUW) 1-6, 7-6, 6-3
 
Doubles Competition:
Amy Kaplan/Alisa Lyshko (UNF) def. Taylor Dean/ Ema Baraniakova (KSUW) Unfinished
Sofia Madrid/Izabelle Persson (KSUW) def. Anslee Long/ Kendall Nash (UNF) 6-1
Sofia Unger/Ivana Gresova (KSUW) def. Jasmine Makela/ Sofia Snitko (UNF) 6-1
 
Match Notes:
Kennesaw State: (5-4)
North Florida: (5-6)
T-3:30, A-27
Order of Finish: Singles (3,2,5,1,6,4) Doubles (2,1)
 
Next Up:
The Kennesaw State women's tennis team prepares to take on Central Arkansas on Friday, Mar. 15 at the Betty Siegel Courts.
 
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