(February 23, 2006) Tampa, Fla. -- USF jumped to a 4-0 lead after winning the doubles point and singles matches at numbers one, tw and three en route to a 5-2 win over North Florida this afternoon at the USF Varsity Tennis Courts. USF raised its record to 4-1, while North Florida fell to 4-5.

USF started quick, sweeping all three singles matches, and then Neyssa Etienne, who is ranked 53rd in the nation, and Courtney Vernon, who is ranked 38th, made quick work of their opponents at numbers one and two singles to push the Bulls to a 3-0 lead. Liz Cruz clinched the match with a straight sets win at number three.

Once the match was clinched, third sets were played as a tiebreaker, and the two teams split those matches at numbers five and six. North Florida's only full match win came at number four singles, where Florencia Torres won in straight sets over Gabriela Duch.

SINGLES
#1 Neyssa Etienne (USF) def. Katja Brandt (UNF) 6-2, 1-0 (retired)
#2 Courtney Vernon (USF) def. Vanessa Sanchez (UNF) 6-2, 6-1
#3 Liz Cruz (USF) def. Catalina Castillo (UNF) 6-4, 6-1
#4 Florencia Torres (UNF) def. Gabriela Duch (USF) 6-4, 6-3
#5 Lauren Cockbill (UNF) ded. Iciri Rai (USF) 3-6, 6-2, 1-0 (tiebreaker) *
#6 Luisa Obando (USF) def. Robin Rogers (UNF) 6-2, 4-6, 1-0 (tiebreaker) *

* Third sets were played as a tiebreaker after USF clinched team win

DOUBLES
#1 Etienne-Duch (USF) def. Brandt-Cockbill (UNF) 8-2
#2 Cruz-Rai (USF) def. Torres-Castillo (UNF) 8-6
#3 Vernon-Obando (USF) def. Cockbill-Rogers (UNF) 8-1