Dukes Falter at North Florida, Rebound vs. Savannah State

Friday, March 9

Jacksonville, Fla.

1 p.m.

James Madison University

North Florida

Dukes Falter at North Florida, Rebound vs. Savannah State

3/9/2018 7:54:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – James Madison women's tennis suffered its first dual loss of the season but rebounded with a win in the nightcap, as it fell 5-2 at North Florida before cruising past Savannah State, 5-0.

Following its spring break trip, JMU sits at 12-1 (1-0 CAA) heading into a nine day break.

Match 1: North Florida 5 JMU 2
North Florida began the afternoon with decisive 6-1 victories at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles to secure the doubles point and take a 1-0 lead into singles play.

In singles, freshman Liz Norman knotted the score at 1-1 with a comprehensive 6-1, 6-2 victory at No. 2 singles. The victory continued Norman's impressive debut season, moving her to 12-0 in duals this spring.

The teams traded the next two points, with UNF's Rafaela Gomez defeating sophomore Jona Roka at No. 1 singles, while freshman Anna Makarova took down UNF's Eva Nyikos in straight-set fashion (6-2, 7-5) to square the match at 2-2.

With the match tied, the Ospreys captured wins at No. 6 (7-5, 6-2) and No. 4 (6-3, 3-6, 6-0) singles to wrap up match point.

The loss ended JMU's 11-match win streak to start the dual season, dropping the Dukes to 11-1 (1-0 CAA). UNF improved to 9-4.

RESULTS
Doubles: (2, 1*)

Gomez/Intert def. Norman/Flament 6-1
Montano/Nyikos def. Makarova/Petersen 6-1
Owens/Roka vs Mariotto/Rossi 4-3 unf.

Singles: (2, 1, 3, 6, 4*, 5)

Rafaela Gomez def. Jona Roka 6-2, 6-4
Liz Norman def. Eva Nyikos 6-1, 6-2
Anna Makarova def. Lucia Montano 6-2, 7-5
Luise Intert def. Emma Petersen 6-3, 3-6, 6-0
Valentina Mariotto def. Diane Flament 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
Florencia Rossi def. Kimmy Herrock 7-5, 6-2

Match 2: JMU 5 Savannah State 0
In doubles, a pair of 6-0 victories from the duos of Makarova and junior Emma Petersen, along with senior Dylan Owens and freshman partner Michaela Kluska, made quick work of the doubles point to give JMU the early 1-0 lead.

In singles, the dominant play didn't cease as Roka and Owens dispatched their opponents in two-set fashion at No. 1 and No. 6 singles (6-0, 6-0 and 6-2, 6-2) to give JMU a 3-0 advantage.

Sophomore Diane Flament clinched match point for the Dukes with a resounding 6-3, 6-1 victory over SSU's Muskaan Ranjan at the No. 3 position.

RESULTS
Doubles: (2, 3*, 1)

Normon/Herrock def. Ranjan/Ranjan 6-2
Makarova/Petersen def. Vorobeva/Alston 6-0
Owens/Kluska def. El Kateb/Shut'ko 6-0

Singles: (1, 6, 3*, 2)

Jona Roka def. Ekaterina Vorobeva 6-0. 6-0
Anna Makarova def. Sofia Shut'ko 6-3, 6-2
Diane Flament def. Muskaan Ranjan 6-3, 6-1
Kimmy Herrock v.s. Sansriti Ranjan 6-0, 3-4 unf.
Michaela Kluska v.s. Shakendra Alston 6-1, 4-6, 2-1 unf.
Dylan Owens def. Rachida El Kateb 6-2, 6-2

QUOTING HEAD COACH JAMES BRYCE
"Today wasn't quite our day from an execution standpoint. We struggled to finish off games and sets when up; however, credit to UNF for making us play. We had a great run to start the season and with this loss, I hope we can learn from it. We needed this tough match and then rebounded well versus Savannah State in the evening. We are looking forward to staying home in Virginia for a few weeks."

UP NEXT
The Dukes will have a nine-day layoff before taking on Colonial Athletic Association foe Delaware and Mount St. Mary's at the Hillside Tennis Courts on Sunday, March 18th at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.