Luna, Martinez Lift Men over Division II Eagles; Women Drop First Contest

Box Score LAKELAND, Fla.- In their first contest of the 2023 season, the No. 9 ranked Southeastern men's tennis team took down Division II program, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, by a narrow score of 4-3 while the No. 12 ranked women fell to the Eagles by a score of 7-0.
 
On the men's side, the Fire began with a one-point lead after securing the doubles point with two wins. Christian Garay and Diego Menendez secured the first doubles match by a score of 6-2 but a responsive win at line two by the Eagles left the doubles point up for grabs. Guido Luna and Enrique Martinez battled to a 7-6 victory (8-6 tiebreaker) to get the Fire on the board first.
 
In singles play, the Fire grabbed victories at lines three, five, and six to claim the match victory. Menendez secured a point for his team at line three after defeating his opponent 6-2 and 6-3.  The Eagles then tied the contest at one with a win at line two but Martinez put the Fire back on top after winning his match 6-4 and 6-3 at line six. Garay fell just short at line one, falling in three sets (3-6, 6-1, 3-6) as the Eagles again tied the match. The match was decided by another Luna victory at line five as he bested his opponent 7-5 and 7-6 (4) to clinch the Fire victory.
 
The Fire women began the day one point behind after the Eagles claimed the doubles point, winning all three doubles matches.
 
Abigail Damon managed to force a set three at line six after dropping set one 6-3 and responding with a 6-2 set two win but fell just short in the tie-breaker set by a score of 10-8.
 
The Fire men will next host Gustavus Adolphus College at the Beerman Family Tennis Complex on February 4^th at 1 p.m. while the women look forward to a contest against Stetson University on February 8^th at 4 p.m.