VALDOSTA, Ga. – Following a rain delay before the match and one during it, the Valdosta State women's tennis team dropped a 4-1 decision to No. 18 Embry-Riddle Saturday afternoon at the VSU Tennis Complex.
 
The teams decided to play the singles portion first to see if one team would clinch and would then play the doubles if needed.  ERAU (9-4) would use a 7-5, 6-3 win at No. 2 by No. 50 Maja Issler over freshman Denisa Hanakova for a 1-0 lead and took a 2-0 lead as Carla Cabero del Hierro, but, at No. 3 singles, freshman Ana Poborilova won 7-6 (7-5), 6-1 over Laura Cuesta Bret for a 2-1 deficit. 

Reigning Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Week, Natalie Rainke, gave No. 36 Itxaso Blanco a three-setter as Rainke opened with a 6-4 victory, before Blanco won the next two sets, 6-2, 6-4 for a 3-1 lead.  The No. 5 singles match also went the distance as Jessica Wira Hadipoe of ERAU won 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 over junior Olivia Pezo to clinch the match. 
 
The Blazers (3-6) return to conference play on Friday, Mar. 29 at 3 p.m. ET in Pensacola, Fla., versus West Alabama and then on Saturday, Mar. 30 at 11 a.m. at West Florida.  Check back with vstateblazers.com for all things Blazer women's tennis.