Tough competition awaited the Fire's arrival in Daytona Beach this afternoon. It was DII #10 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) who welcomed Southeastern to their courts. The Fire battled hard, but eventually came up short to the Eagles 6-1.
The match started on a promising note when the Fire took the initial point of the match with a 2-1 win in doubles.
The flight three match between
Maria Martinez and
Isabella Forcella of the Fire and Jessica Hadipoe and Kaylee Kirivong was the first to finish as the Eagles took that flight 6-2. However, the Fire responded in kind as the #38 NAIA doubles team
Martina Picardi and
Simone Simas upset the #12 DII doubles team Itxaso Blanco and Laura Cuesta Bret in dominating fashion 6-1.
That left the decision up to flight two, the flight went in favor of the Fire as
Flaminia Guidantoni and
Ingrid Montserrat out-dueled Maja Issler and Carla Cabero del Hie 6-4.
Lines one through four were closely contested, and lines five and six went comfortably in favor of the Eagles. Unfortunately for Southeastern every singles match went the way of Embry-Riddle.
Line five between Hadipoe and Martinez finished first, with Hadipoe confidently winning 6-1, 6-2. Next to come was line one, and the #19 Picardi fought hard but was unable to overcome #28 Itxaso Blanco losing 6-4, 7-5.
Lines three and four ended next showing three sets going into extras, but again, both in favor of the Eagles. Simas got to deal with #67 Bret, and fell in straight sets 6-3, 7-6 (7-3). Montserrat in line four forced both matches to extras, but was unable to overcome Hie of Embry-Riddle, losing 7-6 (7-2), 7-5, this win clinched the match for the Eagles.
The non conference contest ended with lines six and two, Alessia Tripadelli of Embry-Riddle showed no signs of struggle with Forcella taking the line 6-1, 6-1. Guidantoni in line two was the only Fire member to win a set in singles, however, #50 Issler prevailed 6-2, 1-6, 6-4.
The Fire collect their second straight loss as they prepare for Sun Conference Tournament play, sitting at the three seed in the conference. The tournament begins Wednesday of next week and finishes the following Saturday.
