LAKELAND – Sasha Nionova batted 50th-ranked Natasa Vukovic and took the win in three sets at number one singles, propelling No. 40 Florida Southern to a 5-4 upset of visiting No. 30 Florida Tech here Thursday at the Warden Tennis Center.

With the match tied through eight of the nine matches, Nionova downed Vukovic, 6-2, 2-6, 6-1, to lift Florida Southern to the march victory, improving the Moccasins' record to 9-6 overall and 2-2 in the Sunshine State Conference. Florida Tech falls to 13-6 and 2-3.

The Moccasins grabbed two of the three doubles matches, beginning with an 8-5 win by Florida Southern's number three team of Mirolslava Mensikova and Natalija Popovic over Florida Tech's Lauren Stuckey and Mariana Castaneiras. FSC's Selin Devrimci and Lorena Rionda posted a 8-6 decision over FIT's Erin Egoroff and Meritt Rabson at number two.

The Panthers avoided the sweep as Vukovic and Chloe Chanley defeated the South Region's 10th-ranked team of Nionova and Linnea Skymberg, 8-3, at number one doubles.

Florida Southern moved to a 3-1 lead as Symberg beat Chanley, 6-2, 6-0, at number two singles, but Florida Tech rebounded with wins at number six and five singles. At number six, Stuckey recorded a 6-3, 6-3 win over Carolyn Cureton while Alahna Reto won 6-0, 6-4 over Popovic at number five to even the match.

Rionda got by Kayla Hergott, 6-3, 6-4, at number three singles to put the Moccasins within one point of the win, but again, the Panthers evened the score with a 7-5, 6-4 victory by Egoroff over Devrimci, leaving the match up to the two number one competitors.

Florida Southern plays next at home on Saturday at 11 a.m., hosting Nova Southeastern at the Warden Tennis Center.