SAINT LEO, Fla. – The third-ranked Saint Leo women's tennis team welcomed in the United States Naval Academy for a cross-divisional match Monday afternoon. The Lions did not back down to their Division I opponents as they nearly pulled off the doubles point and took three of the six singles matches into the third set while taking the victory at No. 2
 
Junior Kristyna Jurkova and graduate student Andrea Ivanovic kicked started the Lions effort at No. 1 doubles as the duo picked up a 6-4 victory over the Midshipmen. Freshman Nina Furmaniak and senior Madeleine Gauthier were barely edged in the No. 2 doubles match 7-5 while sophomore Marta Vicens Miquel and senior Georgia Dobell played tough at No. 3 falling 7-5.
 
With a 1-0 lead entering singles play, the Midshipmen quickly took the No. 3 singles match to open up a 2-0 lead. No. 1, No. 2 and No. 4 singles all went three sets with the Midshipmen winning at No. 1 and No. 4 to clinch the match.
 
Jurkova picked up the Lions lone point on the day at No. 2 as she rallied after falling in the opening set 6-3 to win the second and third sets by the score of 6-3. The victory was her seventh of the season in nine matches.
 
Navy went on to capture the No. 5 and No. 6 singles but it was not easy as the Lions fell 6-4, 6-3 at No. 5 and 7-5, 6-4 at No. 6.
 
Saint Leo will return to its Division II schedule tomorrow, March 12 at 11 a.m. as the Lions host head coach Chad Berryhill's former school Ferris State.
 
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.