MELBOURNE, Fla. – Palm Beach Atlantic women’s tennis won in dramatic fashion on Saturday evening, going down to the very last player against Florida Tech to take away a 5-4 victory.

With the score tied 4-4 after PBA swept doubles and FIT took 3-of-4 in the singles, freshman Ana Reich was put in the spotlight for the Sailfish. The Ecuador native fell in the first set, 1-6, but battled her way through and came away with wins in the second and third sets by 6-4 scores.

Much like their first match, Palm Beach Atlantic doubles teams rolled to victories. Veena Vasquez and Valier Nagovitcina won 8-6, while Yoanna Peshev and Maja Jovic won their matchup 8-5. The third pairing of Leyla Taracena and Michaela Mignemi had an exciting match, winning 9-8, 9-7.

After starting her singles match with a 2-6 set loss, Vasquez would rebound to victories of 6-4 and 7-5. The Panthers then won the next four singles matches to set the stage for Reich’s heroics.

It is a short turnaround for the Sailfish, who return to the courts Sunday afternoon when they take on the University of Tampa at 1:00 pm from the Mitch Gornto Tennis Complex at the Rinker Athletic Campus.

PBA 5                   FIT 4

1D. Vasquez/Nagovitcina def. Vukovic/Ergoroff 8-6
2D. Peshev/Jovic def. Chanley/Her gift 8-5
3D. Taracena/Mignemi def. Casterius/Rabson 9-8 (9-7)

1. Vasquez def. Vukovic 2-6,6-4,7-5
2. Nagovitcina lost to Chanley 7-6,2-6,5-7
3. Peshev lost to Hergoft 3-6,1-4 def.
4. Jovic lost to Ergeroff 2-6, 5-7
5. Taracena lost to Casterius 2-6, 7-5,4-6
6. Reich def. Rabson 1-6,6-4,6-4