MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – No. 4 Southeastern Women's Tennis returned to their winning ways this evening, defeating No. 14 St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens, 4-1.
The rain delaying the match approximately four hours had no effect on the Fire's will to win. Immediately going to work in doubles, and taking the point with wins on the first two flights. Martina Picardi and Alessia Ciampi started things with a 6-3 win over Alicia Rodriguez and Marta Miralles on flight one. Isabella Bolivar Garces and Irene Parigi followed within moments on flight two, with an identical score, triumphing over Sachely Carrera and Sezin Akin to secure the early 1-0 advantage over the Bobcats.
The third doubles match went unfinished with St. Thomas holding a 5-3 lead.
Leonie Schondelmaier took personally to trailing in her doubles match, and was first off the court , cruising to a 6-1, 6-4 win over Akin on line four to extend the Fire lead to 2-0.
No. 62 Isabella Bolivar Garces pushed the Bobcats to the brink with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Caterina Antonini on the top line.
That was when St. Thomas notched their only point, with Jenesie Burgos defeating Aurora Compagnucci, 6-3, 6-3, on line six.
No. 29 Picardi put an end to things on line two, battling through three sets to defeat Maeva Roguet, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, sealing the match for Southeastern.
Two matches remained unfinished when play was halted. Alessia Ciampi had rallied and was closing in on a third-set win on line three, leading No. 37 Sachely Carrera, 2-6, 6-3, 5-2. While No. 53 Parigi was locked in a battle with Alicia Rodriguez, 6-2, 1-6, 1-2.
With the win, the Fire advance to 7-3, and 2-0 in Sun Conference, and prepare to face the No. 1 team in the NAIA. Keiser, tomorrow at 1 p.m. in West Palm Beach.
