NEWARK, N.J. ---  The NJIT women's tennis team rallied back from a 3-0 deficit to tie its match with defending ASUN Conference champion North Florida but the Highlanders were unable to secure the victory, falling to the champions, 4-3 Saturday evening at the Naimoli Family Athletic and Recreation Facility.

After UNF earned the doubles point and won the first two singles points from the Nos. 3 and 4 spots, NJIT started its rally as Mouna Bouzgarrou earned a straight set win at the second flight. Joleta Budiman followed suit, taking the top flight in a close three-set matchup and Amanda Helminsky squared the match at 3-3 after another straight set triumph.

With the match coming down to No. 5 singles, North Florida emerged victorious with a 6-4, 6-1 win.

North Florida 4, NJIT 3
3/30/2019 at Newark, NJ (Naimoli Center) 
Singles competition
1. Joleta Budiman (NJIT) def. Rafaela Gomez (UNF) 6-4, 5-7, 6-4
2. Mouna Bouzgarrou (NJIT) def. Lucia Montano (UNF) 7-6, 6-4
3. Ana Paula Melilo (UNF) def. Holly Matson (NJIT) 6-4, 6-2
4. Valentina Mariotto (UNF) def. Advaita Saravanan (NJIT) 6-4, 6-0
5. Constanza Gorches (UNF) def. Shamika Dhar (NJIT) 6-4, 6-1
6. Amanda Helminsky (NJIT) def. Florencia Rossi (UNF) 6-4, 6-1

Doubles competition
1. Joleta Budiman/Holly Matson (NJIT) def. Constanza Gorches/Rafaela Gomez (UNF) 6-1
2. Lucia Montano/Florencia Rossi (UNF) def. Rafaella Sampaio/Mouna Bouzgarrou (NJIT) 7-6 (7-4)
3. Ana Paula Melilo/Valentina Mariotto (UNF) def. Mayar Eltony/Amanda Helminsky (NJIT) 6-2

Match Notes
North Florida 12-6 (3-0 ASUN)
NJIT 12-5 (1-2 ASUN)
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (3,4,2,1,6,5)