Box Score LAKELAND, Fla. – The No. 4 Fire took to the courts this morning, but despite the strong efforts, were unable to top NCAA DII Middle Georgia State, falling 5-2.
Middle Georgia State claimed the early advantage by taking two of three doubles courts. On flight one, Agustina Olivero and Ainhoa Fernandez defeated SEU's Alessia Ciampi and Martina Picardi, 6-3. Southeastern responded on flight two as Isabella Bolivar Garces and Irene Parigi earned a 6-2 win over Yana Prihach and Aya El Marasse Zarioui.
However, the doubles point went the way of the Knights, where Lucille Grace and Irina Furtuna defeated Leonie Schondelmaier and Aurora Compagnucci, 6-2 on flight three, giving the Knights a 1-0 lead.
In singles play, Southeastern responded, even taking an early 2-1 lead.
Martina Picardi put the Fire on the board with a strong 6-3, 6-3 win over Ainhoa Fernandez on line one. Irene Parigi added the second point for Southeastern with a 6-2, 6-2 victory against Berta Castello Petru on line five.
Middle Georgia State, however, secured wins on the remaining courts. Aya Zarioui outlasted No. 62 Isabella Bolivar Garces in three sets on line two, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4. On line three, Lucille Grace defeated Leonie Schondelmaier, 6-3, 6-3, while Agustina Olivero earned a straight-sets win over Alessia Ciampi on line four, 6-2, 6-4.
The clinching point came on line six, where Yana Prihach battled past Aurora Compagnucci in three sets, 6-1, 4-6, 6-0, sealing the match for Middle Georgia State.
Now 6-3 on the season, the Fire will look to bounce back as they continue their spring slate.
