Owls Serve Up a 4-3 In-State Win

Friday, February 13

Boca Raton, Fla.

12 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

Florida Gulf Coast

2/13/2026 4:53:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic women's tennis team returned to the courts for their first match since a victory on January 30, to defeat in-state foe FGCU by a 4-3 score on Friday afternoon.

The win improved the Owls' record to 3-2 on the year, just ahead of their toughest contest of the early season, a match versus Miami in Coral Gables, scheduled for 12 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 14. The win improved the all-time series versus FGCU to 11-8 and to 7-4 when playing in Paradise.

VIDEO RECAP

THE BEGINNING
The Owls remained perfect in doubles play, securing the match's first point, courtesy of a shutout by junior Panna Bartha / Katrin Pavkova on court #2. With a tight match on court #3 the court #1 duo of Lara Smejkal / Malwina Rowinska closed off a late rally to win the court, 6-2. With two courts in hand and a 1-0 lead, the teams moved into singles play.

THE MIDDLE
Bartha continued dominant tennis with a 6-0, 6-0 win on court # and ended her afternoon by shutting out both her doubles and singles opponents. FAU then secured the match by taking each of the middle courts, which included a 6-0, 6-4 court #3 win by Rowinska and court #4 6-2, 6-0 win by freshman Malika Amirgaliyeva.

THE END
Even though Amirgaliyeva's match clinched the day for the Owls, the two teams continued to play out the final courts, which is how the Eagles were able to secure their three points, all on third-set tiebreaks.

THE RESULTS
FGCU (5-2) at Florida Atlantic (3-2)
Kimberly V. Strauss Tennis Center | Boca Raton, Fla.

Doubles
1. Lara Smejkal / Malwina Rowinska (FAU) def. Anjali Kotecha / Nora Svensson (FGCU) 6-2
2. Panna Bartha / Katrin Pavkova (FAU) def. June Bjork / Africa Burillo (FGCU) 6-0
3. Malika Amirgaliyeva / Alexia Patru (FAU) vs. Cecili Johannessen Maeland / Ashley Matz 4-5 (UF)

Order of Finish: 2,1

Singles
1. Nora Svensson (FGCU) def. Lara Smejkal (FAU) 6-3, 2-6, 10-1
2. Panna Bartha (FAU) def. June Bjork (FGCU) 6-0, 6-0
3. Malwina Rowinska (FAU) def. Cecili Johannessen Maeland (FGCU) 6-0, 6-4
4. Malika Amirgaliyva (FAU) def. Ashley Matz (FGCU) 6-2, 6-0
5. Anjali Kotecha (FGCU) def. Katrin Pavkova (FAU) 6-4, 1-6, 10-8
6. Africa Burillo (FGCU) def. Alexia Patru (FAU) 1-6, 6-3, 10-6

Order of Finish: 2,3,4,1,6,5

UP NEXT/COMPLETE SCHEDULE
Next, the Owls will travel to Coral Gables, where they will face Miami at 12 p.m. on Saturday. To follow the match, click HERE. For a complete schedule, click HERE.

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