ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Saint Leo University women's tennis team returned to the win column on Friday, ending a seven game skid. The Lions earned a hard fought 4-3 win at #30 Eckerd. Saint Leo improves to 6-12 overall and 3-5 in SSC matches. The Tritons fall to 12-6 overall and 2-6 in conference play.

Saint Leo and Eckerd split a tightly contested match, with each side claiming three singles victories after the Lions secured the early doubles point.

Saint Leo took control in doubles play, winning at the top two positions as Candice Bernier and Catherine Rabatin rolled 6-1 at No. 1 and Deren Ozel and Camila Keller added a 6-3 win at No. 2. Eckerd avoided the sweep with a 7-5 win at No. 3, but the Lions carried a 1-0 lead into singles.

In singles, Eckerd responded by taking three of the first five completed courts. Olivia Lindestaf earned a three-set win over Deren Ozel at No. 1, while Maialen Idiakez (No. 4) and Catherine Cole (No. 5) each picked up victories to swing the match. Saint Leo countered with straight-set wins from Candice Bernier at No. 2 and Camila Keller at No. 3 to keep things even.

The match ultimately came down to the final court, where Allie Fernandini secured a straight-set victory at No. 6 to clinch the overall match for Saint Leo.

SAINT LEO 4, ECKERD 3
DOUBLES
1. #18 Candice Bernier / Catherine Rabatin (SLU) def. Olivia Lindestaf / Catherine Cole (EC) 6-1
2. Deren Ozel / Camila Keller (SLU) def. Fiona Orza / Laura Ullrich (EC) 6-3
3. Valentina Sanchez Bronzetti / Maialen Idiakez (EC) def. Sophia Johnson / Nicol Novak (SLU) 7-5
Order of Finish: 2, 1, 3

SINGLES
1. #20 Olivia Lindestaf (EC) def. #37 Deren Ozel (SLU); 6-4, 2-6, 6-1
2. #51 Candice Bernier (SLU) def. Valentina Sanchez Bronzetti (EC); 6-2, 6-2
3. Camila Keller (SLU) def. Fiona Orza (EC); 6-2, 6-2
4. Maialen Idiakez (EC) def. Nicol Novak (SLU); 6-1, 6-4
5. Catherine Cole (EC) def. Sophia Johnson (SLU); 6-2, 2-6, 6-4
6. Allie Fernandini (SLU) def. Laura Ullrich (EC); 6-3, 6-1
Order of Finish: 2, 3, 1, 4, 6, 5

UP NEXT
Saint Leo will host Florida Southern in its final SSC match of the regular season on April 16 at 3 p.m. The Lions will host senior day on April 18 before taking on Edward Waters at 2 p.m.