FT. LAUDERDALE â€" In their first match against a nationally ranked opponent this year, and their first conference match of the season, the Florida Southern Moccasins found themselves on the verge of their first defeat - but only on the verge. Trailing 3-1, the 17th-ranked Moccasins ran off five straight wins in singles play to defeat #11 Nova Southeastern 6-3.
Tied 1-1, the Sharks moved in front with an 8-4 win by their top doubles team of Ulia Talalenko and Justine Feaster. Elisa Leeder then won at #6 singles, and the Sharks (1-1) were up 3-1 in the match.
The Moccasins (4-0) then began their comeback with Veronika Kovacikova’s straight set win at the #4 position. Then it was Senka Softic’s turn at the top flight, as the two-time All-American and 17th-ranked player in the country defeated #41 Ulia Talalenko, 7-6, 6-3.
Ashley Hungerford and Nora Baertschi then picked up identical 6-3, 6-4 wins to secure the match. Erin Conroy eventually won a third-set tie-breaker to give Florida Southern its final point.
The win gives Florida Southern a 4-0 record for the first time since 2004. It also came against the same team the Moccasins have eliminated from the NCAA Tournament each of the last two seasons.
Florida Southern returns to action on Tuesday with a 2:00 p.m. match at Eckerd College.
