DAYTONA BEACH â€" Playing the top-ranked NAIA team in the country, Florida Southern dropped a 9-0 decision to Embry-Riddle on Wednesday evening, as the Eagles used six straight-set wins in singles play to complete the shutout.
Embry-Riddle (2-0) started the day with an 8-1 win at the second doubles flight before getting a pair of 8-4 wins at the first and third. The Eagles then put the match away with wins by their #3 and #2 players, Simon Felix (ranked #13 in the NAIA) and Deni Zmak.
Florida Southern (2-2, ranked #22 in NCAA Division II) had its best showing at #1 and #4 singles where sophomore Emanuel Lueber (Tiengen, Germany) and junior Vladimir Barabash (Puhovka, Ukraine) were playing. Lueber was facing the 5th-ranked player in the NAIA individual rankings, 2-time First Team All-American Chris Freeman, and after dropping the first set 6-3, battled him to a 7-5 decision in the second set. Barabesh, meanwhile, lost his first set on a tie-breaker to Anthony Grasso 7-6 (7-5), before falling in the second set, 6-2.
The Moccasins will be off from competition for a little over a week before taking on #12 Saint Leo on Thursday, February 14, in their home opener at 3:00 p.m.
