SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Saint Leo University women’s tennis team (1-7, 0-2 SSC) dropped their second Sunshine State Conference match of season, losing to the Lynn University Fighting Knights 9-0 Sunday afternoon at the SLU Tennis Center.
Not only did the Lions have to battle a very formidable opponent in the Fighting Knights, they also had to deal with a passing cold front that brought morning rains and cold and windy temperatures in the afternoon. All the factors combined, didn’t make for a favorable outcome for Saint Leo.
The Lions quickly began the day in a 3-0 deficit, as SLU dropped each of their doubles matches. The Lions best chance at victory came from their No. 1 team as Shaena Keefe and Jeanette McDonald pushed the Lynn duo to the edge. But the Fighting Knight tandem proved to be too strong at the end of the match, pulling away for an 8-5. In No. 2 doubles play, the Lynn pair of Siaci and Salame posted an 8-3 match win over Gina Schifano and Taylor Cleaves. On the far court, Lara King and Brittany Fuhr gave it their all but came up short against Johnson and Ferrari in No. 3 double action.
Keefe claimed the No. 1 singles spot for the Lions on this day but the outcome didn’t fall in her favor going down in straight sets 6-3, 6-3. Jeanette McDonald didn’t go down without a fight in the No. 2 singles spot. She overpowered her opponent, Siaci, in the first set, 6-3 but fell in the second set by the same score. The two battled in the super tiebreaker but Siaci gained the upper hand as she pulled away in the latter stages of the set winning 10-6. The loss secured the match for Lynn.
Still the Lions fought and after dropping the opening set 6-2, Schifano went point for point with Salame to try and force a tiebreaker. Unfortunately the decision did not go her way as Salame found the final two points of the match to win 6-4.
The Lions look to snap their two game skid against the University of Tampa on Tuesday, March 3 in SSC action. The Lions registered their only win of the season against Spartans earlier this season. First serve is set for 3:00 pm.
