BOCA RATON, Fla. – The eighth-ranked Saint Leo women's tennis team fell to the sixth-ranked Lynn University Fighting Knights by a score of 6-3 on Sunday afternoon at the Perper Tennis Complex in Boca Raton, Fla. The loss drops Saint Leo to a mark of 2-1 on its young season, while the Fighting Knights stay perfect and advance to 6-0.
The Lions found themselves trailing 2-1 after a solid round of doubles play. Lynn's Rosalie Willig and Andrea Berkova earned the first win at the No. 2 doubles slot, defeating Maria Benkirane and Anastasia Wagner, 8-4. The Lions bounced back, earning the next victory at the No. 3 slot as Laura Kemkes and Paula Montoya made easy work of Alina Jane and Kim Przeszlowski , 8-0.
No. 1 doubles was taken by the fifth-ranked combo of Vale Confalonieri and Ioana Ivan as they took down the duo of Coralie Pesenti and Pauline Helgesson, 8-1.
Saint Leo entered into singles play dropping three quick flights, beginning with Pesenti falling to Willig, 6-0, 6-3, at No. 2. Wagner followed with a 6-2, 6-3 loss to No. 1 Vale Confalonieri at the No. 1 slot, with Benkirane dropping to 11th-ranked Ivan at the No. 3 position, 6-4, 6-1.
Down 5-1, the Lions battled back and earned the next two wins as Kemkes took down No. 21 Berkova, 6-2, 6-0 at No. 4 singles, and Montoya defeated Jane 6-3, 6-1 in the No. 5 slot.
With the overall score sitting at 5-3, Helgesson challenged Przeszlowski at the No. 6 slot for the final win of the day. She put up a good fight in the first set, but fell 7-5, and went on to surrender the second set, 6-1 to close out the day with the Lions dropping to the Fighting Knights, 6-3.
The Saint Leo women's tennis team returns to action on Friday, February 21, when they host Barry University. Match time against the Buccaneers is slated for 2 p.m. at the Saint Leo Tennis Complex.
For the latest news, updates, and information on the Saint Leo women's tennis team, be sure to visit SaintLeoLions.com. Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest Lions news by following Saint Leo Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube.
