VALDOSTA, Ga. – The No. 8 University of West Alabama women's tennis team dropped a 4-1 battle with No. 18 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, 4-1, Sunday afternoon from the Valdosta State Tennis Courts on the campus of Valdosta State University.
In a battle of top 20 teams, West Alabama drops to 8-6, while Embry-Riddle improves to 9-4.
"The ERAU women came out fired up to compete, and we were not at the same level of fighting and finding a way. I hope this is a wake-up call for Nova Southeastern on Tuesday," said head coach
Jeff Beaman.
The match started out on the right foot for the Tigers, who continue to show their dominance in doubles. Lolita Hukaian and
Emiri Takanishi (6-3) got UWA won the No. 3, 7-5 , before No. 45
Khim Iglupas and
Heden Ly (9-1) took the point with their victory, 6-3, at the No. 2 position.
Unfortunately, the momentum shifted to Embry-Riddle in singles, where the Tigers won four points to secure the match. Laura Cuesta Bret was the clincher for the Eagles, dropping Ly in three sets, 1-6, 7-6 (2), 3-6.
Before the match was called, the top two flights were in highly-contested battles.
Shaira Rivera, after falling in a tiebreak, 6-7 (3), won the second set over No. 50 Maja Issler, 6-4 and were in the middle of the deciding set when the clinch occurred.
At the top flight, it was a back-and-forth war for No. 7 Iglupas against No. 36 Itxaso Blanco. In the first set, it went to a seven-point tiebreak, and that was not enough for either side. UWA prevailed 12-10 to take the first set. In the second set, it was all knotted up at five games apiece at the time of the halt.
UWA will next get ready for a match against No. 2 Nova Southeastern on Tuesday afternoon from Sanlando Springs, Florida.
