DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The doubles point proved to be the difference as the Eastern Kentucky University women’s tennis team dropped a 4-3 decision to host Embry-Riddle Monday afternoon. The Colonels are now 5-8 overall.

The Eagles opened the match by sweeping all three doubles matches to earn the doubles point. Eastern Kentucky responded with victories by sophomore Alyze Pagal (No. 4), senior Anais Hamel (No. 5) and freshman Esmira Gheisary (No. 6) in singles. However, it wasn’t enough as Embry-Riddle won the top three singles matches.

“This was a tough loss today,” EKU head coach Rob Oertel said. “I think we let this one slip away.”

Eastern Kentucky continues its spring break trip on Tuesday, March 9 at North Florida.

Embry-Riddle 4, Eastern Kentucky 3

Singles
1. Natasa Zoricic (ERU) def. Myriem Mhirit (EKU) 6-3, 6-1
2. Yi Ching Chen (ERU) def. Jessica Albuquerque (EKU) 6-2, 6-2
3. Caroline Nilsson (ERU) def. Anouk Faure (EKU) 0-6, 6-4, 6-2
4. Alyze Pagal (EKU) def. Julija Stojkovska (ERU) 6-4, 4-6, (10-6)
5. Anais Hamel (EKU) def. Sara Abraul (ERU) 6-3, 6-4
6. Esmira Gheisary (EKU) def. Landyn Scudder (ERU) 6-3, 6-4

Doubles
1. Chen/Zoricic (ERU) def. Albuquerque/Mhirit (EKU) 8-2
2. Abraul/Stojkovska (ERU) def. Faure/Hamel (EKU) 8-6
3. Nilsson/Scudder (ERU) def. Pagal/Branco (EKU) 8-5

Match Notes: Eastern Kentucky (5-8); Embry-Riddle (7-4)