The Slippery Rock University women’s tennis team faced a challenging match against the highly ranked Saint Leo University Lions, ultimately losing 5-2. This contest, held on Wednesday, saw The Rock drop to a 3-5 record for the 2024-25 season, while Saint Leo improved to 9-1. Despite the loss, the team displayed remarkable resilience and competitive spirit throughout the match.

Saint Leo started strong by dominating the doubles matches. The Lions secured the first team point with victories in all three doubles flights. In the first flight, Luzia Obermeier and Kamilya Shailina emerged victorious over Alissia Kivi and Nicole Kempton with a score of 6-3. The second flight saw Camila Keller and Claudia Roca narrowly defeat Amaia Balaguer Brau and Tina Slovak 6-4. The third flight was a closely contested match that went to a tiebreaker, where Catherine Rabatin and Madelyn Martin triumphed over Dari Sakhanova and Georgie Lancaster with a final score of 7-6 (7-2).

Although The Rock was swept in doubles play, they managed to secure two crucial singles victories. Balaguer Brau, currently ranked 21st nationally in singles, showcased her prowess by defeating Claudia Roca 6-3, 6-4, improving her record to 13-7. Sakhanova also delivered an impressive performance, winning a hard-fought match against Rabatin with scores of 6-3, 4-6, 10-3. Both players have now won three of their last four matches, demonstrating their growing consistency. Kempton nearly added another point for SRU but narrowly lost to Shailina in a thrilling three-set match. The remaining singles matches went to Saint Leo, solidifying their overall victory.

The Slippery Rock University women’s tennis team will continue their Florida trip with another ranked match on Friday at No. 31 Florida Southern College. Despite the setback, the team’s determination and individual successes highlight their potential and readiness for upcoming challenges. Their performances underscore the importance of perseverance and teamwork in achieving future victories.