DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The second-ranked Embry-Riddle women's tennis team suffered a 6-3 defeat at the hands of NCAA II No. 17 Florida Southern on Wednesday afternoon. The Eagles fell to 1-1 while FSC improves to 1-0 on the young season.
 
The Blue and Gold got off to a strong start, winning the first two doubles matches to take an early 2-0 lead. Ana Gonzalez-Hoy and Meena Bennett defeated Crystal Copeland and Pamela Paradis at No. 3 doubles, 8-5, followed by a 9-7 win at No. 2 doubles for Paola Montero and Giovanna Tomiotto over Christie Nunnemann and Laura Wichmann. FSC's Magda Riutort and Sabine Goge, ranked No. 12 in NCAA II, fought back to win the No. 1 doubles match, 9-8 (6) over the NAIA No. 4 tandem, Kristina Marova and Hui-l Huang.
 
Montero pushed the Eagle lead to 3-1 with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Nunnemann at No. 3 singles, but that would prove to be the last point scored for Embry-Riddle. Wichmann fended off a comeback attempt by Tomiotto at No. 4 singles, 6-1, 7-6 (5) to make the score 3-2. Riutort, ranked No. 11 in NCAA II, held off NAIA No. 17 Kristina Marova at No. 1 singles, 6-3, 7-5, and NCAA II No. 35 Goge knocked off NAIA No. 7 Huang at position two, 6-4, 6-2, giving the Lady Mocs a 4-3 edge.
 
Copeland clinched the win for Florida Southern with a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Elise Lagerstrom at No. 6 singles and Victoria Spagnuolo ended the dual match with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Ana Gonzalez at position five.
 
The Eagles will be back at the Crotty Tennis Complex on Saturday, Feb. 9 for a 1 p.m. contest against NCAA II Valdosta State.