Saint Leo, Fla. (March 18, 2008)  - The No.29 Saint Leo women’s tennis team (7-6) prevailed over the University of West Alabama Tigers Friday afternoon at the SLU Tennis Center 7-2.

Doubles action saw the Lions break out to a quick lead taking two of the three doubles matches. The Lions No.1 duo of Lina Berkirane (So., Casablanca, Morocco) and Asmaa Tazi (Jr. Casablanca, Morocco.) shut down the Tigers team of Brittany Williams and Chenge Tsapayi 8-1. In the No. 3 position, Veronica Queen (Fr., Valrico, Fla.) and Gina Schifano (So., Tampa, Fla.) pounced on the Tiger tandom of Mariana Freitas and Amanda Morgan 8-1. The lone defeat came from the No.2 position, as Shaena Keefe (So., Spring Hill, Fla.) and Taylor Cleaves (So., Norwell, Mass.)  fell to the Tigers’ pair of Nicole Shanahan and Rachael Hardaway 8-5.

Singles competition was just as good for the Lions, as SLU won five of their six matches. In the No.2 spot Tazi shut out Tsapayi 6-0, 6-0. The success continued in the No. 3 and No.4 spots, as Keefe defeated Freitas 6-1, 6-4 and Queen rolled past Hardaway 6-0, 6-1. In No.5 singles action Schifano used the super tiebreaker to win her match 6-3, 3-6, 10-7. While in the No. 6 spot, Cleaves won her match over Morgan 6-4, 6-2.