ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. —
Anika Nissen has been the glue for the Flagler College women's tennis team all season.
It didn't change Tuesday in the Round of 16 in the NCAA Division II National Championship as the senior solidified her come-from-behind, 22nd straight win on four court to send the eighth-seeded Saints past ninth-seeded St. Mary's University, 4-2, at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs, Florida.
The victory sends 11th-ranked Flagler (19-7) to the Elite Eight for the first time in program history with a matchup versus top-ranked Barry University awaiting the Saints tomorrow (Wednesday) at 4 p.m. It also was Flagler's first-time playing 20th-ranked St. Mary's (21-4) and its first matchup with a Lone Star Conference opponent since the 2019-2020 season when the Saints defeated the University of Texas at Tyler, 6-1.
Doubles showcased why these two teams had made it to the Sweet Sixteen. No. 8
Luisa Hrda and
Eden Schlagenhauf took down Angela Vargas and Elena Munoz at first doubles, 6-2. The Rattlers evened the doubles score at 1-1 following a 6-2 win at third doubles, leaving second doubles to decide the 1-0 advantage. For Flagler, it was the usual duo of
Alessandra Traub and Nissen prevailing behind a 6-3 win over Ashley Penshorn and Alice Thane to snag the 1-0 lead.
Singles play tested both teams across the board, which was mirrored by the almost four-hour match. The score moved to 2-0 following No. 5 Hrda handing No. 40 Penshorn her worst loss of the year, winning 6-1 and 6-1, for her seventh win against ranked opponent and 12th straight victory.
Florencia Massardo Brain put the Saints within one match of moving to the Elite Eight as she won her second consecutive match in impressive fashion, 6-0 and 6-2, against the Rattlers' Gabi Ioannou at fifth singles. In-between Hrda and Massardo Brain, the Rattlers got on the board at third singles, with No. 42 Maria Garcia taking the 6-1 and 6-0 win against Traub.
Down 3-1, the Rattlers closed the gap to 3-2 — following Thane's 6-2, 6-2 win over
Addison Skye Breunich at sixth singles — leaving second and fourth singles to decide the rest. At second singles, Schlagenhauf grinded out a first set win, 6-4, but dropped the second set, 7-5, to Vargas. Nissen battled back after dropping set one, 6-3, to win the second set, 6-4, before grinding out the 6-3 set-three win to keep the Saints dancing into the next round of eight.
Schlagenhauf was deadlocked at 3-3 in the third set at the time of Nissen's clinch.
Be the first to know what's going on with the Saints -- Follow @FlaglerSports on Twitter, follow FlaglerSports on Instagram, become a fan of Flagler College Athletics on Facebook and subscribe to the Flagler College Athletics e-newsletter to receive the latest news, schedule updates and to interact with Flagler Athletics.
