VALDOSTA, GA - Suzana Cavalcante helped get West Florida going with an 8-1 win at the top doubles flight, then won the clinching match at #1 singles to lead 5th-ranked West Florida to a 5-0 win over 16th-ranked Florida Southern in the preliminary round of the NCAA Tournament.
Cavalcante teamed up with Paulina Ojeda for the early doubles point as the Argonauts (20-7) won all three doubles matches. Erin Conroy and Veronika Kovacikova played the Mocs' closest match up to that point, but fell 8-4 at #2 doubles.
Once singles play began, the Moccasins (16-7) began to fight their way back as Conroy, Kovacikova and Ashley Hungerford all won the first set of their matches. The Argonauts kept the pressure on, however, as Cavalcante and Naomi Higa won their first sets, moving West Florida to edge of a win.
As the singles competition reached the second set for the Higa was able to give West Florida another point with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Amanda Carns at the #6 position. Meanwhile, Conroy and Kovacikova were in control of their matches, and Nora Baertschi won her second set 6-1 to give the Mocs a chance in that one as well.
The match ended ended though when Cavalcante (ranked #6 in the nation individually) finished off a 6-4, 6-3 win over Senka Softic (ranked 7th) at the top singles position. It was only the second loss of the season for Softic, who fell to 19-2 with that result. That ended Florida Southern's season and sent West Florida into the next round to face either Valdosta State or Nova Southeastern.
