WINTER PARK, Fla. (March 10, 2026) - Rollins got the better of Tuskegee Wednesday in the first ever matchup between the two regional foes. Grabbing a tight doubles point, the Tars propelled into singles and got the job done, clinching 4-2.
It came down to the wire, but a late rally by
Nisan Can and
Lorin Tilipman sealed the early advantage for the Tars to begin match play. Rollins was in position quickly thanks to
Sydney Eckstein and
Milla Falster. Playing together for just the second match all season, the veterans showed their poise with a smooth 6-2 output on the middle court. Elsewhere, it was the visiting Golden Tigers showing their prowess with a win on court three. That set the stage for a pivotal outcome on the headline court.
Wednesday marked the third time Can and Tilipman appeared as a tandem. Splitting the first two decisions, the rubber match was tied at four before the duo pulled away. For their efforts, the all-important doubles point was awarded, sending the Tars into the locker room with the momentum.
The regional challengers to the north would not back down, though. A win on court six proved from the Golden Tigers of Tuskegee, Alabama had come to play. The victory brought the match back to a stalemate, but it would not last.
After her gritty doubles success,
Nisan Can trailed 3-0 to begin singles number one. Regrouping herself at the changeover, Can found her mojo on the other side of the net, and she found it in style. Twelve straight games went the way of the Tars' lead-off player on the path to a 6-3, 6-0 straight setter. While Tuskegee soon equalized, the standstill lasted but a moment; that was when
Amina Abdulloeva put Rollins up for good.
The Florida native had quite the turn of events on court four. Trading games until the match was tied at five, Abdulloeva fell behind, needing a rally to send things into a tiebreak. Not only was she successful in her quest to force the extra play, but the sophomore was also brilliant going forward. A 7-1 tiebreak win preceded a 6-1 second set, putting Rollins just one match away from a second straight win.
Milla Falster ensured that her teammate's efforts would not be in vain. Falster lived up to the match theme, battling back to win consecutive sets after dropping set one. The senior set a career milestone in the process. Across her illustrious four-year career, the Norwegian had never played singles number two. With over fifty matches under her belt, Falster's number two debut put the match on ice, sending the Tars faithful home happy.
Head Coach
Tasi Purcell Batista joined them in a share of elation. Postgame, she had this to share with local coverage of the team, now standing at 8-3 on the season.
"There were a lot of great matches today against a tough team. Special shoutout to our doubles teams for securing the point - it was exciting to watch," Coach Tasi remarked.
"Looking forward to having a weekend match and seeing some fans at our new home."
Coach Tasi alludes to Saturday's bout with Middle Georgia State, which will be match number two of the day. The women will follow the men, who will joust with the Knights beforehand at 10am. For all the news, notes and storylines, stayed tuned all season long at Rollinssports.com.
