WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.- The Sailfish women’s tennis team took to the court on Saturday just 24 hours after knocking off Florida Southern College for the first time in program history. Unfortunately for the Fish their efforts against Saint Leo University wouldn’t be as productive as the No. 27-ranked Sailfish were defeated 7-2 by the No. 12-ranked Lions.

Veena Vasquez and Victoria Baca drew the Fish closer with their good work at the top of singles play but in the end the depth of Saint Leo (5-2) would be too much for PBA (5-4) to claim a second straight upset.

The Lions swept through doubles with the PBA tandem of Natalia Trotter and Leyla Taracena at No. 2-doubles providing the biggest  hurdle as SLU earned a 9-7 victory.

Vasquez knocked off Pauline Helgesson at No. 1-singles with a solid 7-6 (3), 6-2 win while Baca posted a come-from-behind effort versus Coralie Pesenti with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory at No. 2-singles.

SLU claimed the bottom four singles to earn the victory in the match.

PBA will be off until taking on the Pennsylvania State University- Abbington on Friday, Mar. 1 when the team hosts their annual match at the Delray Beach Tennis Center. The match is slated to begin at 5 pm.

#12 Saint Leo 7, #27 Palm Beach Atlantic 2
02/23/13 at West Palm Beach, Fla.

Singles competition
1. Veena Vasquez (PBAW) def. Pauline Helgesson (SLW) 7-6 (3-0), 6-2
2. Victoria Baca (PBAW) def. Coralie Pesenti (SLW) 2-6, 6-3, 6-2
3. Maria Benkirane (SLW) def. Natalia Trotter (PBAW) 6-4, 6-3
4. Emily Singleton (SLW) def. Vilja Vahatalo (PBAW) 6-2, 6-2
5. Adrianna Daszkiewicz (SLW) def. Jessica Wharton (PBAW) 6-2, 6-0
6. Phoebe Di Leo (SLW) def. Leyla Taracena (PBAW) 6-2, 6-1

Doubles competition
1. Laura Kemkes/Emily Singleton (SLW) def. Veena Vasquez/Victoria Baca (PBAW) 8-1
2. Pauline Helgesson/Maria Benkirane (SLW) def. Natalia Trotter/Leyla Taracena (PBAW) 9-7
3. Coralie Pesenti/Adrianna Daszkiewicz (SLW) def. Vilja Vahatalo/Jessica Wharton (PBAW) 8-4

Match Notes
Saint Leo 5-2; National ranking #12
Palm Beach Atlantic 5-4; National ranking #27