BOX SCORE

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla, - The Nova Southeastern University women's tennis team (5-5) saw another match slip away as the No. 16 University of Indianapolis Greyhounds (7-2) rallied late to defeat the Sharks, 5-4 at the NSU Tennis Complex on Friday afternoon.

Luicelena Perez and Alex Kaeser got the Sharks on the board with a dominating 8-0 win over Isabella Bergman and Mara Hofsetter at No. 2 doubles. The Greyhounds answered with an 8-2 win at No. 3 to even the score at 1-1.

Then the Sharks took a 2-1 lead going into the singles with a thrilling finish at No. 1 doubles. The top flight with Nastassia Rubel and Simone Pratt saw a back-and-forth match against the No. 11 doubles team in the country which also featured the third-ranked singles player in Division II. Leading 7-4, the Greyhounds pair tied the match 7-7 and looked to complete the comeback. But Rubel and Pratt would win the next two sets taking the point with a service ace by Rubel. With the 9-7 win, Rubel and Pratt become the third doubles pair in school history, first since 2011, to start the season 10-0.

The Greyhounds tied the match 2-2 after starting singles play with a 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 6. Simone Pratt answered back at No. 2 defeating Florence Renard, 7-6, 6-2 giving the Sharks a 3-2 lead. The match of the day went to Perez who faced the third-ranked player in the country, Hannah Volikova in the top flight. Perez swept 6-2, 6-1 to give the Sharks a 4-2 lead. The Greyhounds went on to 4-4 after picking up wins in No. 5 and No. 3.

At No. 4 singles, Eva Agasse forced a third set and was leading 4-0, but she could not regain her momentum and fell 6-4 in the final set giving the Greyhounds the 5-4 win.

"We had great individual performances by LP and Simone," head coach Doug Neagle said. "LP played great against the No. 3 singles player in the country and crushed it in doubles. Simone and Nastassia stepped up playing the No. 11 ranked doubles team and picked up a huge win to stay unbeaten. We still have work to do and we have to be able to finish strong in close matches. We have some time off to rest and we will have a tough one against Lynn."

The Shark will return to the NSU Tennis Complex on Monday, Mar. 27 to face No. 3 Lynn at 3:00 p.m.