PENSACOLA, Fla. – The University of Alabama in Huntsville tennis teams fell to Florida Southern in a neutral site match in Pensacola on Friday. The 8-1 loss puts the men's team at 11-9 on the season, while the ladies fall to 7-7 with the 9-0 setback.
 
“We played a really good women's team today,” said Head Coach Daniel Finn of the 26th-ranked team in the country. “The ladies did a great job of competing, but we were just outmatched in this one.”
 
Evidence of the strong compete level in the team, UAH battled hard and just missed out on earning a point in doubles as the No. 2 pairing of Alejandra Pacheco and Katie Bryant fell by a tight 9-7 score. In singles action, Maria Lawton made the strongest bid as she fought to a 7-6 loss in the first set of the No. 3 match before falling 6-0 in the second set.
 
Going up against the nation's No. 18 player, Jessica Groupierre took four points in her match at the No. 1 singles position.
 
On the men's side, the Chargers were able to take a point away from an incredibly tight set of doubles matches as the third pairing of Christopher Kano and Raphael Oliveira won 9-7 while the top pairing of Jose Soto and Nestor Perez fell 8-5 and the second duo of Fredrik Graaner and Guillermo Reyes fell by the slimmest of margins 9-8 (7-2).
 
“We just didn't show up after doubles today,” said Finn. “It was like that took the life out of us. We will just have to swallow this and get ready for tomorrow.”
 
No player was able to win a match in singles action against the 29th-ranked Mocs, but Perez did extend his contest at the third position to a full three sets before ultimately falling 6-2, 4-6, 10-8. Reyes was also strong in being tripped up 6-4, 7-6.
 
Both teams will look to bounce back when they take on West Florida early Saturday morning.