WINTER PARK, Fla. (April 14, 2026) – Rollins wrapped up the conference slate Tuesday afternoon with a narrow defeat at the hands of Nova Southeastern. The decision came down to just one match, and ultimately the visitors had the upper hand.
After a shake up to the doubles lineup and with a new wind to their sails, the Tars came out energized. Splitting courts two and three, Rollins and Nova traded blows from the top court of duo action before it was ultimately the Sharks biting off an early advantage. Still, the creative combinations sparked tight matches.
Nisan Can and
Amina Abdulloeva teamed up to nab a 6-1 win from the third line. Playing together for the first time since February, the partners were clicking on all cylinders.
Onward the match went to singles where the ITA's top two ranked women squared off from court one. Yesterday,
Alyssa Novoa fell in what was another top three matchup according to the
latest rankings. Today, however, was a whole new ballgame. Novoa came out on fire, and didn't slow down until she defeated the Sharks' Kristyna Hranacova in straight sets, something no opponent had managed to do all Spring. The nation's top player had only dropped two matches all season before today's bout. Novoa was the first to do it in the minimum.
The top line savant set the tone, which was mirrored on the complex's East side headliner a short while later. There, it was
Nisan Can getting the job done. The fellow newcomer's victory once again came in straight sets, this time ending in epic fashion. After controlling a 6-2 first set, Can and counterpart Katja Markus fought tooth and nail before it was Nisan crowned the ultimate winner in a tiebreaking second.
Up to that point, though, it was the Sharks who had swam out ahead. The visitors to the south had snagged a win on line six and three between Rollins' success from the top courts. When the Sharks found the winners circle once more from line five, the decision officially went to the reigning national runners-up.
Lorin Tlipman did not falter. Despite the match being decided, Tilipman continued to grind out within her third set. Leading up to the winner-take-all stanza, the sophomore had won the leadoff set before dropping the middle. Coming back with fire, Tilipman did not waste any time, going 6-1 in what was the final match play of the day.
Afterwards, Rollins head coach
Tasi Purcell Batista commented, "Today was definitely an improvement in performance from yesterday. It was much closer to the standard expected in this program and the team seems to understand that now."
She continued, "Special recognition goes to Nisan and Lorin who earned impressive match wins - and especially Alyssa with her win over the nation's top-ranked player."
Certainly, there were positive signs to take out of Tuesday's result and things to build from when the Tars hit the road for the abode of today's adversary at conference championships next week. Yet, we will first take time to honor two terrific seniors when the regular season wraps up Thursday.
Be sure to catch senior day festivities moments prior to match play against New College of Florida. The ceremony will begin around 3:30pm as we recognize
Milla Falster and
Sydney Eckstein, two Tars who have poured their heart and soul into the program. While Thursday marks their final home match, their impact on the program will last for years to come.
