COLUMBUS, Ga. — Heartbreaker.
It just wasn't in the cards for the No. 12 Flagler College women's tennis team Saturday as the Saints struggled in doubles play before falling just short in a 4-3 loss to No. 13 Azusa Pacific University at the Walden Tennis Center in Columbus, Ga.
"It was a tough loss today against Azusa Pacific," Flagler women's tennis head coach
Rodrigo Puebla said. "Overall, we did not play strong doubles, but we picked it up in the single matches. The girls worked their way back into the match, but unfortunately, we did not use some of the chances we had in the end. Nevertheless, we will learn from this match and be ready for the upcoming matches."
Flagler (6-4) will be able to get back on track rather quickly with a two-match homestand on deck, beginning with Southern New Hampshire University coming to the Flagler Tennis Center for a noon first serve Monday.
The Saints fought until the very last point, literally.
Florencia Massardo Brain kept her freshman mojo rolling with her straight-set victory for the second in a row, while No. 36
Lixin Wang knotted the score at 2-all with her impressive back-to-back set win over No. 8 individual Anna Savchenko, which was the sophomore's fourth consecutive win and 16th overall.
APU (6-2) took the lead back with a No. 6 singles win, but then junior, No. 28
Anika Nissen fought back from a set-one loss with a three-set victory over No. 34 Jacky Wagner for her third straight and 13th on the season. Tied at 3-all, the final point game in dramatic fashion as
Amelie Vossgaetter nearly upset No. 42 April Wong in a three-set showdown before ultimately coming up just short.
Singles
1. #18 Petra Ivankovic (APU-WT) def. #14 Eden Schlagenhauf (FLG) 7-5, 6-0 |
| 2. #36 Lixin Wang (FLG) def. #8 Anna Savchenko (APU-WT) 6-2, 6-3 |
| 3. #28 Anika Nissen (FLG) def. #34 Jacky Wagner (APU-WT) 4-6, 6-2, 6-0 |
| 4. #42 April Wong (APU-WT) def. Amelie Vossgaetter (FLG) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 |
| 5. Flo. Massardo Brain (FLG) def. Courtney Page (APU-WT) 6-4, 6-0 |
| 6. Katia Betancourt (APU-WT) def. Paloma Martinez (FLG) 6-2, 6-4 |
Match Notes
Azusa Pacific 6-2; National ranking #13; Regional ranking #3 |
| Flagler 6-4; National ranking #12; Regional ranking #4 |
| Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (5,1,2,6,3,4) |
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