TAMPA, Fla. – Palm Beach Atlanticc women’s tennis snapped a three-game slide with a hard-fought 5-4 victory over the University of Tampa on Tuesday afternoon.

The Sailfish (2-3) had lost three in a row after winning the season opener against Carson Newman. The Spartans (2-1) suffer their first loss of the season after upset wins over nationally-ranked Nova Southeastern and Embry-Riddle.

The ‘Fish took both number one and number doubles narrowly to take a 2-1 lead into singles. At the first position it was Valerie Nagovitcina and Leoni Polzin who came away with a 9-7 victory while their teammates Romina Bolagay and Michaela Mignemi came away with the win in a tiebreak, 9-8 (7-3).

In singles action the Spartans took a 3-2 lead in the match, winning both number five and four singles. Polzin pulled the ‘Fish even with a straight sets, 6-3, 6-3, win at number two before Mignemi pulled the Sailfish within one flight of clinching the team victory with a 6-2, 7-5 win at number six.

Nagovitcina cruised to a first set victory, 6-0, before dropping the second to Caroline Lozo at the top spot. In the third Nagovitcina held off Lozo for the 6-4 win, clinching the victory for the ‘Fish. PBA had a chance in the final flight on the court but Taylor Conti was knocked off in three sets.

The Sailfish will hit the road over the weekend, playing their next six matches at the Hilton Head Island Spring Break Tennis Fest beginning on Sunday.