#3 SCF Women’s Tennis over #12 Florida State College Jacksonville

Bradenton, Fla - The State College of Florida tennis team faced the toughest match of the year Sunday but prevailed over Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) Blue Wave, by a a score of 7-2.  SCF swept all three doubles matches to start the match up 3-0.  SCF #2 singles Miranda Talbert picked up the 4^th point for the Manatee’s losing only 2 games  and Ameina Houston at the #6 slot secured the team victory with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Samatha Donaldson.  Picking up the 6^th point for SCF was #3 player Sarah Peek. 

The final singles match on the court lasted 2 hours and 55 minutes and in the end SCF’s #1 Natella Nabieva ranked 4th nationally was the last one standing.  She  defeated FSCJ’s Olivia Rolle.  Starting to experience leg cramps late in the third set leading 6-5, Nabieva called time out as both the trainer and SCF coaches worked on her.  Barely able to resume the match she got up and somehow won the next two points and the match.  After the match Nabieva said “I have no idea how I remained standing at the end as both legs were locking up”.  Coach Taylor said it seemed as if he was watching a boxing heavy weight championship bout as both girls hit shot after shot and deserved to win.  He credits Nabieva’s heart as the difference.  Taylor stated “Natella has the heart of a champion and that is why she was the winner today”.

The next match for the 3-0 Manatee’s will be in Dallas, Texas on Friday at the Collin Invitational where they will face #2 Tyler and two other top ten teams.           

SINGLES 

#1 Natella Nabieva #3 (SCF) def  Olivia Rolle #23 (FSCJ) 3-6, 6-2, 7-5

#2 Miranda Talbert #19 (SCF) def  K.Thomas (FSCJ) 6-0, 6-2

#3 Sarah Peek (SCF) def E. Kariqi (FSCJ) 6-4, 6-4

#4 T. Castiglioni (FSCJ) def  Mikala Lowrence #30 (SCF) 6-2, 6-1

#5 K. Tyson (FSCJ) def Casey O’Toole (SCF) 6-2, 6-3

#6 Amiena Houston #42 (SCF) def S. Donaldson (FSCJ) 6-1, 6-1

DOUBLES

#1 Nabieva & Peek  (SCF) def Rolle & Thomas #23 (FSCJ) 8-6

#2 Talbert & Lowrence (SCF) def Kariqi & Castiglioni (FSCJ) 8-2

#3 O’Toole & Houston (SCF) def Tyson & Donaldson (FSCJ) 8-6