MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – The No. 5 Embry-Riddle women's tennis team (17-7) made history on Friday winning its first-ever NCAA Division II regional match.  The fourth-seeded Eagles defeated the fifth-seeded and ninth-ranked Tampa Spartans (16-4) in a 4-0 triumph in the first round of the regional tournament hosted by Barry at the Buccaneer Tennis Center. The Eagles gained the doubles point and never looked back, grabbing the win with three victories in the singles.

It was smooth sailing for the Eagles in the doubles, as 6-0 victories by Maja Issler and Carla Cabero del Hierro against Savannah Williams and Rebecca Presley in the No. 3 matchup and by the fourth-ranked duo of Itxaso Blanco and Laura Cuesta Bret over Julie Ball and Victoria Sanchez at No. 1 doubles gave ERAU the doubles point.

Blanco continued her winning ways in singles, as the nation's No. 27 player defeated the No. 28-ranked Ball 6-2, 6-1 in the No. 1 spot. Cabero del Hierro scored a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Nicole Cerniak in the No. 4 matchup, putting Embry-Riddle up 3-0 and on the brink of advancing to the second round.

Issler gave the Eagles the win at the No. 2 spot. The senior rallied  to win 7-6 (4), 6-3 victory against Sanchez to make it 4-0, clinching victory for Embry-Riddle.

ERAU advances to the second round and will face top-seeded Barry, who is ranked No. 1 nationally. That match is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Saturday.