VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State women's tennis team jumped out to the early lead against Tampa winning the doubles point, but was unable to hang on in a 4-3 loss Saturday afternoon at the VSU Tennis Complex. 
 
Tampa won the first doubles match at No. 2 as Corbin Dorsey and Giulia Tatini defeated Blazer duo of junior Hera Bjork Brynjarsdottir and freshman Rachelle Starreveld, 6-1.  VSU responded quickly as sophomore Birte Langestein and freshman Julia Saving won 6-3 at No. 3, moments before senior Estee Widdershoven and Evan Rivoal won at No. 1, 6-3, to claim the team point. 
 
The Spartans tied the match with a win at No. 5 singles as Vanina Irodanova downed Bjork Brynjarsdottir, 6-1, 6-2, but Starreveld won at No. 6 over Cheyanne Brooks, 6-1, 6-2 for a 2-1 VSU lead.  Tampa took wins at Nos. 3 and 1 for a 3-2 lead.  Rivoal lost 7-6 and 7-6 to Dorsey at No. 4 on 8-6 and 9-7 in the tiebreakers, respectively, as UT clinched the match.  Langestein won at No. 2 singles in a pair of 7-6 victories for the second singles win for the Blazers. 
 
VSU will be back in action Sunday at 1 p.m. versus No. 2 Lynn and then on Tuesday at 3 p.m. versus Auburn-Montgomery in Gulf South Conference action.