SAINT LEO , Fla. - The Saint Leo University women's tennis team took on #17 Valdosta State Blazers on Sunday. The Lions earned a pair of singles wins from Deren Ozel and Camila Keller but fell 4-2 to the Blazers. Saint Leo falls to 5-11 overall and Valdosta State improves to 8-4.  
 

The Blazers secured the doubles point with wins at No. 2 and No. 3, defeating Sophia Johnson and Nicol Novak, 6-1, and Madelyn Martin and Catherine Rabatin, 6-0. The No. 1 doubles match featuring Camila Keller and Deren Ozel was left unfinished at 3-1.

In singles, Saint Leo picked up two points behind strong performances from Deren Ozel and Camila Keller. Ozel, ranked No. 43, earned a 6-2, 6-3 win at No. 1, while Keller battled back for a three-set victory at No. 2, 3-6, 6-1, 7-5. Valdosta State clinched the match with wins at Nos. 3, 4, and 6, including a straight-set victory by No. 53 Iv Castillo Hurtado at No. 3. The match at No. 5 singles went unfinished.
 

#17 VALDOSTA STATE 4, #47 SAINT LEO 2
DOUBLES
1. Keller, Camila/Ozel, Deren (SLU) vs. #48 Lena Beckx/Milica Prokic; 3-1
2. Iv Castillo Hurtado/Charleigh Fay (VSU) def. Johnson, Sophia/Novak, Nicol (SLU); 6-1
3. Kitti Nemeth/Carmelle Vial (VSU) def. Madelyn Martin/Catherine Rabatin (SLU); 6-0
ORDER OF FINISH: 3, 2
 
SINGLES
1. #43 Deren Ozel (SLU) def. Lena Beckx (VSU); 6-2, 6-3
2. Camila Keller (SLU) def. Milica Prokic (VSU); 3-6, 6-1, 7-5
3. #53 Iv Castillo Hurtado (VSU) def. Sophia Johnson (SLU); 6-0, 6-1
4. Charleigh Fay (VSU) def. Nicol Novak (SLU); 7-5, 6-3
5. Arianna Bettinelli (SLU) vs. Carmelle Vial (VSU) 
6. Kitti Nemeth (VSU) def. Allie Fernandini (SLU); 6-2, 6-1
ORDER OF FINISH: 3, 1, 4, 2, 6
 
UP NEXT
Saint Leo returns to action on Saturday afternoon as it hosts Keiser at 1 p.m. at the Saint Leo Tennis Courts on April 4.