SAINT LEO, Fla. – In the final regular-season home contest for its two seniors, the No. 5 Saint Leo women's tennis team rolled through visiting Eckerd College, 9-0 on Thursday at the Saint Leo Tennis Complex.
The Lions improve to 15-3 on the season with a 5-1 tally in Sunshine State Conference play while the visiting Tritons fall to 6-11 with a 0-7 mark in SSC play.
Seniors Maria Benkirane and Paula Montoya were recognized for their efforts as members of the Green and Gold during a pre-match ceremony as part of the Senior Day festivities.
Both seniors finished the day with a pair of wins, as the Lions cruised to a 9-0 win over Eckerd. Saint Leo ended doubles action with a 3-0 advantage as No. 8 tandem of Benkirane and Isabella Robbiani blanked Gipson Hawn and Amy Naula, 8-0. Montoya and Gabrielle Paul ousted the Fridrik sisters by an 8-2 doubles set after Marine Beugre-Guyot and Pauline Helgesson began the day with a quick 8-1 win over Carson Trapp and Katie Benn.
The Green and Gold continued its dominating match, sweeping singles play as No. 14 Robbiani trumped Hawn in straight-sets. Benkirane battled past Trapp by 6-0 and 6-1 sets while fellow senior Montoya stifled Emily Fridrik by 6-2, 6-3 sets to continue the Lions' winning ways. Paul added another win, defeating Naula in consecutive set wins.
Both Katherine Zaatini and Coralie Pesenti completed the sweep with straight-set wins, as the Lions win its third consecutive conference win.
Saint Leo will hit the road to play West Alabama on Saturday, April 11th, slated for a 3 p.m. start at the VSU Tennis Courts in Valdosta, Ga.
For more information on the Saint Leo women's tennis program, 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.
