LAKELAND - In a battle of two nationally-ranked teams, #9 Academy of Art edged #14 Florida Southern in women's tennis action here Monday at the Wynee Warden Tennis Center. The loss drops the Moccasins to 9-4 on the season while the Urban Knights improve to 10-3.
In doubles, Academy of Art grabbed two matches with Monika Stanikova and Paula Alcantara defeating Natalija Popovic and Lola Asis, 8-3, at number one and the 17th ranked duo of Alma Thell-Lenntorp Klara Thell-Lenntorp got by Selin Devrimci and Lorena Rionda, 8-7 at number one. Florida Southern's number two pairing of Magda Stepnik and Nina Schwab downed Maria Andrisani and Taisiia Andrieieva at number two to stave off the Urban Knight sweep.
In singles, 70th-ranked Klara Thell-Lenntorp topped Asis, 6-1, 6-0, at number three while Alma Thell-Lenntorp defeated Stepnik, 6-1, 6-1, at number five as the Academy of Art went ahead 4-1. Devrimci held off Andrisani, 6-4, 6-2 at number two, but 14th ranked Stanikova downed 61st-ranked Rionda 6-3, 6-3, at number one to clinch the win for the Urban Knights.
The Moccasins captured the final two pairings as Popovic beat Andrieieva, 6-4, 6-2, at number four and Schwab outlasted Alcantara, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 at number six.
Florida Southern returns to Sunshine State Conference action on Thursday, March 29 against Eckerd at 3 p.m. at the Wynee Warden Tennis Center.
