West Palm Beach, Fla. (February 28, 2026) – Rollins improved to 6-0 on the season Saturday afternoon with a 4-2 victory over Palm Beach Atlantic. The road conference match completed all singles competitions before weather rolled in and cut the match short during doubles play.
There were numerous circumstances that could dampened the Tars' quest for a sixth consecutive win to start the 2026 spring campaign. For starters, the trip to Palm Beach marked the first time the Rollins women hit the road all season. Couple that with uncertain weather conditions shifting the order of match play, Saturday's conference contest was anything but ordinary. But this year's team is anything but ordinary, too. And they proved that yet again today.
Hitting the singles courts first, it was
Nisan Can as the pathfinder of the first point of the match. Can's 6-2, 6-2 effort put Rollins on the board from line two, and
Lorin Tilipman quickly followed with an impressive 6-0, 6-2 showing of her own on court four.
Sydney Eckstein stayed hot on Saturday, too. The senior's 6-2, 6-0 sweep playing number five gave her a second consecutive singles victory and brought the Tars within one point of clinching another conference bout.
Yet again, it was
Alyssa Novoa delivering in the clutch. The number one singles player scurried her way into a win, duplicating the 6-3 score in both sets. Most importantly, the result clinched the win for Rollins, which was essential to lock up before the predicted weather rolled in.
Palm Beach Atlantic prevailed on courts six and two to conclude singles play, but conditions only continued to become more ominous as the sides turned their attention towards doubles.
Lorin Tilipman and
Amina Abdulloeva appeared to be in position for their third win as a combination, leading 4-1 before mother nature interrupted play. Elsewhere, on court three of doubles action,
Milla Falster and
Sydney Eckstein trailed by one game in a narrow battle. Doubles number one, meanwhile, had been awarded to the Tars by default before the match was officially shut down. In sum, Rollins headed back to Winter Park with a 4-2 victory.
Despite all the noise, Rollins marched into West Palm Beach with one mission, and that was accomplished. Head Coach
Tasi Purcell Batista had this to say about the team's effort:
"The team showed up big time today for another conference win on the road," she told one reporter after the match.
"Despite uncertain weather, and having to start with singles, their energy stayed the same through and through. We look forward to being back on campus this week for a couple of home matches."
Those home matches Coach Tasi speaks of, begin on Monday. First, it will be Wingate University coming to town before the University of Charleston occupy the visiting side Thursday. Both matches will take place at 2pm.
Finally, St. Thomas University (MN) will wrap up the busy week for Rollins, squaring off with the Tars at 4pm on Friday. Check back in with Rollinssports.com for the latest scores, news and updates!
