Tallahassee, JAN. 31, 2014 – The No. 62 USF women's tennis team nearly pulled off the upset of No. 27 Florida State University Friday afternoon falling 5-2 at the Scott Speicher Tennis Center in Tallahassee.

The Bulls lost two matches in a tiebreak which had they won, would have given them the victory.  USF now stands at 2-2 on the young season with both their losses coming to ranked opponents while FSU improves to 3-2.

Vera Bessonova and Olga Martinez got USF off to a fast start as they quickly handled Laurence Porry and Majlena Pedersen winning 6-0 at third doubles.  After FSU took second doubles, Kayla Rizzolo and Loreto Alonso-Martinez went into a tiebreak at first doubles but came up short falling in a tiebreak, 7-6 (8-6) to give FSU the doubles point.

In singles action, the Bulls took two of the first three decisions to knot the match up at 2-2.  Martinez earned the first point for USF besting Pedersen 6-4, 6-1 at sixth singles.  Loreto Alonso-Martinez then added another victory for the visitors defeating Kerrie Cartwright in the second singles spot, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4.

Olaya Garrido-Rivas had a hard fought loss at third singles dropping a 5-7, 6-2, 0-1 (9-11) contest to Daniela Schippers.

USF will finally return to their home courts when they host Florida Gulf Coast on Wednesday, February 5 at the USF Varsity Tennis Courts.  The match is scheduled to get underway at 11:00 a.m.

Doubles

No. 1 - Danieka Borthwick/Kerrie Cartwright (FSU) def. Kayla Rizzolo/Loreto Alonso-Martinez (USF) 7-6 (8-6)

No. 2 – Daniela Schippers/Mia Vriens (FSU) def. Olaya Garrido-Rivas/Fanny Fracassi (USF) 6-0  

No. 3 - Vera Bessonova/Olga Martinez (USF) def. Laurence Porry/Majlena Pedersen (FSU) 6-0

Singles

No. 1 – Danieka Borthwick def. Kayla Rizzolo (USF) 6-2, 6-0

No. 2 - Loreto Alonso-Martinez (USF) def. Kerrie Cartwright (FSU) 7-6, (7-2), 6-4)

No. 3 - Daniela Schippers (FSU) def. Olaya Garrido-Rivas (USF) 7-5, 2-6, 1-0 (11-9)

No. 4 – Mia Vriens (FSU) def. Fanny Fracassi (USF) 6-3, 6-3

No. 5 - Laurence Porry (FSU) def. Vera Bessonova (USF) 6-4, 6-2