LAKELAND - Senka Softic picked up where she left off in the fall, freshman Andrea Arguello got her career off to a rousing start (officially), and four other Moccasins were equally impressive in a season-opening 9-0 win over Saint Leo.
Ranked #13 in the country, Florida Southern won its fifth straight season opener, with the last four coming against Saint Leo (ranked #28). It was also the Moccasins' 62nd consecutive victory over the Lions since 1980, and this one was decided relatively quick. The Moccasins swept the three doubles matches, starting with an 8-0 win by Nora Baertschi and Veronika Kovacikova, then took all six singles matches without dropping a set.
Leading 3-0, Florida Southern got a win from Amanda Carns at #6 singles when her opponent, Caroline Ebner, was forced to retire due to injury already trailing 5-0 in the first set. Arguello then took down Christine Clyne, 6-0, 6-0 at #4 singles in the first dual match of her college career. That was the deciding point that clinched the outcome for the Moccasins.
Softic, meanwhile, picked up the win at #1 singles, defeating Jeanette McDonald, 6-1, 6-1. The 3-time All-American had closed out the fall portion of the schedule ranked #4 in the country among individuals following a third-place finish at the ITA Division II National Tournament.
With the help of freshman Agnese Rozite, Softic also earned Florida Southern another point Wednesday with an 8-2 win at the top doubles position. Softic and Rozite are ranked #17 nationally.
Wednesday's match was also the first for new Saint Leo coach James Bryce, who took over this year for Tim Crosby. Crosby had been head coach of the Saint Leo women's tennis team for 37 years prior to his retirement at the end of last season.
Florida Southern will host the University of Tampa next Tuesday in a match scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m.
