WINTER PARK, Fla. (March 9, 2026) – The Tars got back to their winning ways Monday afternoon, cruising to a 6-1 win over the visiting D'Youville Saints. The victory improved Rollins to 7-3 on the season.
On a sunny day in Winter Park, with temperatures approaching the 90s, humidity wasn't the only thing bringing the heat. Rollins got their mojo back right off the bat, clinching the doubles point with consecutive wins to begin play. First, it was
Amina Abdulloeva and
Sydney Eckstein, making their debut as a pair, but showing no signs of a lack in chemistry. The exceptional duo cruised to a win in the minimum, putting the Tars on the doorstep.
Milla Falster and
Stella Fruijtier had no trouble letting themselves in. The veterans, who rank first on the team in appearances together as a tandem, showcased their longstanding synergy with a 6-3 win. Leading the whole way, the partners eventually finished the job to give Rollins the desired point. While D'Youville took home line one, the Tars had won the overall race to a 1-0 match lead.
Low and behold, doubles action would only be the precursor for more smooth playing for the home team. First, it was
Annie Sallick capitalizing on her opportunity on line six. The junior dominated, going 6-1, 6-2 and in the process, setting the tone for her team.
Nisan Can wasted no time following suit. Playing for the first time on court one, Nisan went rogue again, this time to the tune of 6-1, 6-0. It was her ninth straight set win on the season.
Milla Falster performed the same song and dance as her teammates to officially put the stamp on today's affair from singles number three. The senior captured an early lead in set one and then surged to win it 6-3. Then, using the momentum, Falster dictated set number two from the jump. Her 6-0 result clinched the victory for Rollins and turned eyes to the special comeback that
Lorin Tilipman was piecing together.
Tilipman controlled the first set on court two with a 6-1 winner. But a third set looked inevitable when she got down five games to none. Good thing Tilipman did not listen to conventional wisdom. The sophomore stormed back, taking six of the next seven games. Then, in a back-and-forth tiebreak that was not ready to be decided in the typical race to seven points, Tilipman edged her opponent to secure an 8-6 win.
Back-and-forth would be one way to describe
Sydney Eckstein's gritty win. The senior showed her toughness in the form of a straight set win, both coming down to one game to avoid a tiebreak. The Bali native found a second gear when things were knotted at five, resulting in a pair of 7-5 conquests. D'Youville captured a hard-fought win on court four to give the Saints the final match of the day, but it was the home team that etched their name in the win column today.
"It always feels good to start the week with a win," head coach
Tasi Purcell Batista explained to one area journalist covering the team.
"I am proud of my team for continuing to put in the work and trust the process. We look forward to another match on Wednesday."
The match Coach Tasi refers to is a 2pm tilt with the Tuskegee Tigers, a regional foe meeting the Tars for the first time in program history. Be sure to follow the action live at Rollinssports.com as we celebrate high school tennis!
