(Results)
HIALEAH, Fla. (Feb. 28, 2024) – Florida National University’s women’s tennis team (1-6) captured its first win of the 2024 season, defeating the NAIA’s No. 18-ranked Ave Maria University Gyrenes (1-7). The Conquistadors came into the match fresh off a loss to the NCAA DII Sailfish at home 5-2 but shook off the loss for a massive conference win Wednesday.
In doubles play, FNU suffered losses from FNU pair Nadia Abad and Vanessa Simone 6-2 and Celeste Deniz Reyes and Natalia Calvo 0-6. AMU looked poised and cohesive with solid wins heading into singles play, where FNU posted four impressive wins to secure the match in its favor.
AMU did post a victory by Vitoria Barandas over Karyna Krykunenko 6-4, 6-1, along with a monster 7-5, 6-4 win from Clara Penido opposite Calvo. Impressive singles win from Abad over Lauren Berns 7-5, 7-5, was a massive advantage for the Conquistadors. Simone showed her veteran savvy with a 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 victory versus AMU’s Regina Ruiz. Wins by Reyes and Fiorenza were enough to end the match in the Conquistadors’ favor and ushered in FNU’s first women’s victory as a member of the Sun Conference.
Doubles Competition:
Number one:
Nadia Abad / Vanessa Simone lost to Vitoria Barandas / Clara Penido (2-6)
Number two:
Celeste Deniz Reyes / Natalia Calvo lost to Nicolle Koop / Lauren Berns (0-6)
Number three:
Chiara Fiorenza / Karyna Krykunenko vs. Regina Ruiz / Abigail Rich (3-4) [UF]
Singles Competition:
Karyna Krykunenko falls to Vitoria Barandas (4-6, 1-6)
Natalia Calvo falls to Clara Penido (5-7, 4-6)
Nadia Abad defeated Lauren Berns (7-5, 7-5)
Vanessa Simone defeated Regina Ruiz (5-7, 6-4, 6-3)
Celeste Deniz Reyes defeated Nicolle Koop (6-3, 6-2)
Chiara Fiorenza defeated Abigail Rich (6-2, 6-2)
Up Next: FNU’s next contest at Goodlet Park is set for March 7 against Wayne State University.
