MOBILE, Ala.—Southeastern is one of the last four women's tennis teams competing for the NAIA National Championship after knocking off No. 3 Xavier 4-2 in the national quarterfinal.
The Fire had to bounce back in singles play after dropping the doubles point.
Neleah Neiberline and
Irene Lopez were a 6-4 winner at Line 3 to tie doubles play but the Gold Nuggets took the second flight match, 6-4 to hold a 1-0 lead in the dual.
Martina Picardi and
Micah Sypert gave the Fire the lead with Picardi winning by retirement at Line 1 and Sypert winning 6-1, 6-2 at Line 2. Neiberline put the Fire a point away with a 6-3, 6-2 win in the fifth flight and
Beatrice Letizia was a 7-6 (7-5), 6-1 winner at Line 3 to end the match.
Simone Simas was on the verge of clinching the Flight 4 match, leading 5-1 in the third after taking the second 6-3.
Southeastern will take on six-time defending champion Georgia Gwinnett on Friday at 10 a.m. Eastern with the winner advancing to the championship.
