MIAMI, Fla. ? The No. 49 University of South Alabama women’s tennis team lost for just the fourth time this spring when it dropped a 7-0 decision Sunday afternoon at No. 53 Florida International at University Park.
The Jags (17-4) will now wait to find out their seeding in next week’s Sun Belt Conference Tournament in Monroe, La. Florida International ends the regular season with an 11-8 record with the win.
For the first time in dual match play this season, the Jags were swept in the doubles portion of the match. The 34th-ranked Golden Panther duo of Liset Brito and Egle Petrauskaite defeated USA’s team of Adrianna Solarova and Sylvanie Spangenberg, ranked 55th, 8-3 at No. 1. FIU’s Maria Spenceley/Priscilla Castillo then clinched the point with an 8-6 victory over USA’s Michaela Babicova and Katie Welch at No. 2.
Things didn’t get any better for South Alabama in singles competition, as Florida International continued its strong performance by taking all six of the singles matches. The Golden Panthers picked up straight set wins at No 2 and 4 and then clinched the match with a three set win from Petrauskaite, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, at No. 1.
No. 53 Florida International 7, No. 49 South Alabama 0
4/13/2008 at Miami, Fla.
Singles competition
1. No. 98 Egle Petrauskaite (FIU) def. Adrianna Solarova (USAW) 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
2. No. 103 Liset Brito (FIU) def. No. 123 Michaela Babicova (USAW) 6-1, 6-0
3. Marijana Cutuk (FIU) def. Erica Krisan (USAW) 6-2, 4-6, 6-3
4. Priscilla Castillo (FIU) def. Katie Welch (USAW) 7-6 (7-1), 6-2
5. Maria Dolores Pazo (FIU) def. Sylvanie Spangenberg (USAW) 7-6 (7-4), 2-6, 6-4
6. Maria Spenceley (FIU) def. Jelena Krivacevic (USAW) 5-7, 6-1, 1-0 (10-6)
Doubles competition
1. No. 34 Liset Brito/Egle Petrauskaite (FIU) def. No. 55 Sylvanie Spangenberg/Adrianna Solarova (USAW) 8-3
2. Maria Spenceley/Priscilla Castillo (FIU) def. Michaela Babicova/Katie Welch (USAW) 8-6
3. Maria Vallasciani/Maria Dolores Pazo (FIU) def. Erica Krisan/Jelena Krivacevic (USAW) 8-5
Match Notes:
South Alabama 17-4; National ranking No. 49
Florida International 11-8; National ranking No. 53
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (2,4,1,6,3,5)
