VALDOSTA, Ga. - The Valdosta State lady blazer tennis team opened up their season with a 7–2 loss to the Nova Southeastern Sharks on Saturday afternoon in women's tennis action at the Valdosta state tennis courts in Valdosta, Ga.
 
Bea Morales Hernandez was the highlight of the day for the Lady Blazers in singles action, as she defeated Sabrina Kierberg 6–1, 6–1 at No. 1.
 
The Lady Blazers dropped the remainder of their singles matches on the day, as Jennifer Rink fell in a 6-1, 6-3 match at No. 2 to Petra Jurova, and Joanna Lario lost 7-5, 6-1 to Francesca Sella at No. 3. Freshman Anke Poncelet competed at No. 4 in a 6-3, 6-2 loss to Irina Constantinide, while Lowndes high graduate Taylor Vinge suffered a 6-0, 6-2 defeat to Alexandra Johansson. Injuries for the Lady Blazers forced the team to forfeit their final singles match of the day.
 
Injuries also plagued VSU in doubles play, but not before Morales and Lario edged out Constantinide and Sella with an 8-6 win at No. 2 for the only other Lady Blazer point of the afternoon.
 
Rounding out doubles action, Rink and Poncelet teamed up at No. 1, but were unable to outlast Kierberg and Jurova, who picked up an 8-1 win. The third doubles set went in favor of the Sharks due to multiple injuries that derailed the Lady Blazers as the day progressed.
 
Valdosta State will have the opportunity to rebound tomorrow in Carrollton, Ga. with a pair of Gulf South Conference matchups against West Georgia and Lee at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., respectively. Stay tuned to www.vstateblazers.com for Lady Blazer tennis results throughout the entire 2015 season.