MELBOURNE, Fla.- Continuing their busy early season schedule, the Palm Beach Atlantic University women’s tennis team hit the courts again on Saturday afternoon and dropped a tough 5-4 decision on the road to Florida Tech. PBA was victorious in four of six singles matches but dropped all three doubles.

Now 1-1 after a 7-2 victory against Saint Leo University on Friday afternoon, the Sailfish looked to improve their record to 2-0 to start the 2009 season.

The Sailfish dug themselves into a hole to start the match as they dropped all three doubles before moving to singles.

Montse Ripoll got thins started for PBA in the singles portion with a hard-fought match with #1-singles foe Natalie Ramos in a 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 Ripoll victory. Olga Alekseeva followed up Ripoll’s three set victory with one of her own over as she defeated FIT’s Abbey Grief at 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.

Lina Rubiano came through with a more dominating victory at #3-singles with a 6-4, 6-2 win while Katie Livesay earned the other win for the Fish at #6-singles with a 6-4, 6-2 victory of her own.

PBA 4, Florida Tech 5

Doubles

#1- Ramos/Grief (FIT) defeated Ripoll/Alekseeva     8-5
#2- Price/Madrigal  (FIT) defeated Rubiano/Aleman    8-2
#3- David/Weinning (FIT) defeated Domenech/Livesay   8-5

Singles

#1- Ripoll (PBA) defeated Ramos (FIT)     6-1, 4-6, 6-2
#2- Alekseeva (PBA) defeated Grief (FIT)     4-6, 6-2, 6-4
#3- Rubiano (PBA) defeated Price (FIT)     6-4, 6-2
#4- Madrigal (FIT) defeated Aleman (FIT)     3-6, 7-5, 6-1
#5- David (FIT) defeated Domenech (PBA)     7-5, 6-1
#6- Livesay (PBA) defeated Weinning (FIT)     6-4, 6-2