FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. – In their third straight match against an opponent ranked among the top three teams in the nation, the 16^th-ranked Embry-Riddle women's tennis team proved a tough test for second-ranked Nova Southeastern (2-0, 1-0). The Eagles won three singles matches but fell 4-3 to the Sharks at the NSU Tennis Center.
 
Saturday's match marked the end of a difficult road stretch for the Eagles who are now 1-3 overall and 0-3 in the Sunshine State Conference, with all three losses coming against NCAA II top three foes.
 
The match started with a win for the Sharks at No. 2 doubles as Diane Follin-Arbelet and Eva Goncharov downed Sabrina Ehrenfort and Alessia Tripaldelli 6-0. Next, the top-ranked pair of Natalie Espinel and Fatima Bizhukova topped No. 24 Itxaso Blanco and Carla Cabero del Hierro 6-2 on court one, but the Eagles avoided the doubles sweep thanks to Jessica Christa Wira Hadipoernomo and Kaylee Kirivong's 6-3 defeat of Karolina Snita and Julie Razfindranaly.
 
The Sharks extended their lead to 2-0 when Follin topped Rachel Swan 6-0, 6-0 at No. 5 singles as illness forced the Eagles to make unexpected changes to their lineup. The NSU lead grew to 3-0 with eighth-ranked Razafindranaly's 6-4, 6-2 win against Cabero at No. 2. The clinching point came at No. 6 where Goncharov bested Kirivong 6-3, 6-2.
 
Each of the last three singles matches went to three sets. First off the court was Wira Hadipoernomo who battle Bizhukova to a 6-4, 2-6, 10-7 win. At the top spot, No. 20 Itxaso Blanco held off No. 39 Espinel 6-2, 4-6, 12-10, and Alessa Tripaldelli capped the day for the Eagles with a 4-6, 6-2, 11-9 win over Snita on court four.
 
The Eagles will have a two-week break before seeing their first action at the Crotty Tennis Complex this season. ERAU will host Eckerd in a match slated for 2 p.m. on February 25.