VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State women's tennis team came up just short in a 4-3 loss to No. 7 Embry-Riddle on Saturday afternoon at the VSU Tennis Complex. The Blazers won the doubles point and held a 3-2 lead in the match, before ERAU won the final two matches for the victory.
Despite the loss, the Blazers (1-2) have shown great improvement as they won the doubles point last week in a loss to No. 2 Nova Southeastern and then today, winning all three matches. Top duo of
Lena Beckx and Milica Porkic won 6-2. No. 2 duo of
Ivana Castillo Hurtado and
Charleigh Fay won 6-4 and at No. 3
Carmelle Vial and
Kitti Nemeth won 7-5.
ERAU (6-0) evened the match with a 6-0, 6-2 win by Benedetta Sensi over Fay at No. 4, while ERAU's Franziska Kremerskot won 6-2, 6-0 at No. 6 over Nemeth for a 2-1 Eagle lead. Prokic tied the match with a 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) win at No. 2 over Luara Cuesta Bret and Castillo Hurtado gave VSU a 3-2 lead with a 6-3, 0-6, 6-4 win at No. 3 over Daniela Fernandez.
Vial battled back from 6-2 opening set loss to win the second set 7-5 at No. 5 singles, but came up just shot in the third set, falling 6-4. At the top spot, ERAU's Amelie Gindl won 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 over Beckx to clinch the match, 4-3.
The Blazers return to action on Monday at 2 p.m. at No. 11 Florida Southern.