LAKELAND, Fla.—In a tight match that could have gone either way, the Fire came up on the wrong end of a 6-3 decision with Missouri Baptist.
Gabby Marshall and Nicole Backherms notched their second win as a duo with an 8-5 victory at no. 2 in doubles competition. However, going into singles play Southeastern trailed the Spartans 2-1 due to close defeats in the other matchups.
Michelle Doan and Backherms each took their singles matches in straight sets. Doan, a sophomore from Orlando, Fla., eliminated her opposition at no. 5 by taking a close first set 7-5 and then cruising to a 6-2 victory. Backherms earned the first individual win of her junior year by clinching the no. 4 contest with a 7-5 win after topping her opponent 6-3 in the first frame.
Despite the wins at no. 4 and no. 5, Missouri Baptist was able to defeat the Fire thanks to victories at the other four positions.
Southeastern will be back in action when the team travels to West Palm Beach, Fla. for a match with NCAA Division II foe Palm Beach Atlantic. The match is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Missouri Baptist 6, Southeastern University 3
Singles
1. Tamara Klimek (MBU) beat Sharienne Ricardo (SEUW) 6-2, 6-1
2. Thais Castiglioni (MBU) beat Angelique Myrtil (SEUW) 7-6 (7-5), 6-1
3. Krista Tyson (MBU) beat Gabby Marshall (SEUW) 6-1, 7-6 (7-3)
4. Nicole Backherms (SEUW) beat Dani Jo Stevenson (MBU) 6-3, 7-5
5. Michelle Doan (SEUW) beat Rafaela Davide (MBU) 7-5, 6-2
6. Emily Brown (MBU) beat Sydni Brookhouser (SEUW) 6-1, 6-1
Doubles
1. Tamara Klimek/Krista Tyson (MBU) beat Sharienne Ricardo/Angelique Myrtil (SEUW) 8-4
2. Gabby Marshall/Nicole Backherms (SEUW) beat Thais Castiglioni/Hannah Chaney (MBU) 8-5
3. Dani Jo Stevenson/Emily Brown (MBU) beat Michelle Doan/Sydni Brookhouser (SEUW) 8-5