PENSACOLA, Fla. – The No. 17 Valdosta State women's tennis team took the early lead looking for the upset, but came up short in a 5-2 loss at No. 2 West Florida on Friday.  The Blazers fell to 8-6 on the year and 4-2 in Gulf South Conference play. 
 
Poised for upset potential, the Blazers came out and claimed the doubles point with wins at Nos. 3 and 2 doubles in thrilling fashion.  Blazer duo of Carmelle Vial and Kitti Nemeth continued their strong season with a 6-4 win at No. 3 over Sophie Smith and Kyle Kochis.  UWF duo of Carlota Verdu and Sandra Recuenco won 6-4 at the top spot over No. 38 Lena Beckx and Milica Prokic for a 1-1 score in doubles.  At No. 2, Charleigh Fay and Ivana Castillo Hurtado won 7-6 (7-2) to earn the team point. 
 
In singles, UWF rallied as Alberte Jorgensen won 6-1, 6-2 over Vial at No. 5 for a 1-1 score and took a 2-1 lead with a win from Recuenco at No. 2 over Prokic, 6-3, 6-0.  The Argos pushed the lead to 3-1 with a 6-3, 6-3 win from No. 36 Aline Midori Da Silva over No. 52 Castillo Hurtado.  No. 5-ranked Verdu won 6-4, 6-1 over No. 74 Beckx at the top spot to clinch the match.  Nemeth won 7-6 (7-1), 6-2 at NO. 6 over Kochis at No. 6.  Fay won the first set in a tiebreaker 7-6 (8-6), but lost 6-4 in the second set and 10-6 in the super tiebreaker third set at No. 4 to Guadalupe Martinez in the final match. 
 
The Blazers return to action on Saturday at 3 p.m. in Pensacola versus No. 4 West Alabama and then on Sunday at 10 a.m. versus Christian Brothers.