FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The No. 8 Nova Southeastern tennis team (16-1, 6-1 SSC) earned its fifth consecutive win at home after playing on the road for eight of its last nine matches. The Sharks gutted out a 5-2 victory over No. 12 Florida Southern at the NSU Tennis Complex on Friday, bouncing back from losses in the doubles point and sixth singles flight to reel off five consecutive wins for its 16th victory.
 
Although the phenomenal season-opening streak is done in the books, the Sharks have now matched their best program start since the 2014-15 season. That season, NSU finished 18-3 with the year ending in the NCAA South Regional.

Doubles

• Losing only their second team doubles point of the season, NSU fell behind early on a 6-2 defeat for junior Isabella Lowrey and freshman Diane Follin-Arbelet – dropping just the tandem's second doubles of the year.
• The Sharks bounced back to knot things up with a 6-2 win for junior Sarah Wardenburg and freshman Natalie Espinal over Selin Devrimci and Natalija Popovic in the first flight. However, junior Daniela Obando and sophomore Chantal Nosievici couldn't overcome the FSC push in a 6-4 second flight finish.

Singles

• The Mocs earned the first singles win as well, putting NSU in a 2-0 hole, but ITA No. 8 Espinal set NSU on the right path, delivering a 6-1, 6-2 win over No. 64 Devrimci in No. 1 singles.
• Follin-Arbelet tied the match up in flight three with a 6-4, 6-2 win over No. 66 Magda Stepnik.
• Obando knocked down a 6-4, 6-4 victory over No. 39 Lorena Rionda to push the Sharks ahead in No. 2 singles.
• Wardenburg earned her second win for the day, rallying from a 4-6 loss to defeat Popovic, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 and securing the NSU victory.
• Playing in the fourth slot, Nasievici remained the lone undefeated singles player on the primary roster, grinding out a 6-3, 6-7, 10-7 win over Minnie Kim to put the icing on her and the Sharks' 16th win.

From Coach Doug Neagle
"Florida Southern came out of the gates quick in doubles," Neagle said. "Our team didn't have its best tennis today, which is a lot due to Southern playing inspired. But we found a way to get the win today. A lot of it was just fight. Really proud of Sarah Wardenburg today in both doubles and singles."

Up Next: The Sharks hit the road fast, heading north to Satellite Beach for another Sunshine State Conference matchup at Florida Tech (9-3, 1-3 SSC), meeting the Panthers at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday at the DeSoto Tennis Center.