Miami Shores, Fla.- Lynn University's women's tennis team, ranked eighth in the nation, fought an epic battle with undefeated No. 2 Barry University in the NCAA South Region Finals on Sunday. The 5-4 loss, which was decided in a third set between the number four singles, marks the end of the Fighting Knights season.
Lynn's number two doubles team of Kim Przeszlowski and Aleks Vudakinovic set the pace early scoring taking the first point of the game but fell 8-4 for Barry to take a 1-0 lead in doubles early. LU's top duo, No. 3 Confalonieri and Ivan took a 7-3 lead over #11 Elisabeth Abanda and Emma Onila, before Barry won three straight points to cut the Fighting Knights lead to 7-5.
Alina Jane and Andrea Berkova led 4-1 before Barry made a come back to tie the game at 6-all at number three doubles. Confalonieri and Ivan evened the match at 1-all with a 8-5 final over Abanda and Onila. A constant back-and-forth battle between the number three doubles teams saw Barry edge LU 9-7 to lead the match, 2-1.
Barry extended its lead to 3-1 when Przeszlowski was defeated, 6-1, 6-0, by No. 33 Linda Fritschken. Third-ranked Confalonieri lost her first set at the top singles spot, 6-1, before coming back to win, 6-0, forcing a third set against #28 Abanda.
Confalonieri won her third set putting Lynn behind the Bucs, 3-2. Seconds later Ivan, ranked 13th, beat #41 Onila in sets of 7-5 and 6-4. Barry's Akemi Maehama edged Vukadinovic 7-5 in the first set before winning the second set 6-0 to put Barry ahead 4-3.
After losing her first set 6-0 at number five singles, Berkova bouncedback in a 7-5 win to force a third set. With Jane on the verge of forcing a third set to keep the match alive, Berkova won her third set, 6-3, over #33 Linda Fritschken, to even the match at 4-4.
Jane forced a third set with a 7-5 win at number four doubles before Barry went on to advance to the NCAA Tournament in Sunrise, Az., when Karina Goia won the decision set 6-1.
Lynn finishes the season 16-6, 5-2 in the Sunshine State Conference. Barry wins the NCAA South Region and remains undefeated at 26-0. LU will return all six starters next season. Fans can stay updated on Lynn tennis all year long at www.LynnFightingKnights.com. Don't forget to 'Like' us on Facebook and follow @LUKnights on Twitter and Instagram.
